By Fuad Nizam
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has denied claims of a last-minute change to the proposed candidate for Chief Justice, saying the appointment had been submitted and approved by the King earlier.
He said allegations of a final-hour name swap were baseless and deliberately politicised by certain quarters to create public unease.
"They said the (judicial) system was compromised. There were those who wanted to politicise the issue.
"For a week, we were criticised, with claims that the Prime Minister did not respond. How could I respond at that time when the (judicial appointment) process was still ongoing?
"The appointment of the Chief Justice must go through Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, which requires the Prime Minister's recommendation for the King's consent, after consultation with the Conference of Rulers," he said during the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly.
Source : anwar-denies-last-minute-name-change-chief-justice-appointment