Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla has weighed in on the controversy surrounding yesterday’s opening of the Judicial Year, saying that it is the Malaysian Bar’s right to raise the issue of Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif’s tenure extension at the event.

He also criticised Raus’ explanation on making himself the sole speaker at the annual event for being “trivial”.

“I am of the opinion that the excuse given by Raus as the chief justice was not only not based on solid reason, but trivial and showed how the principles of natural justice have once again been betrayed.

“Isn’t the existence of a constitutional crisis, especially when it disputes the credibility of the chief justice and the Court of Appeal president, a current issue among the people? Does this not demand the Bar touch on it in its speech?

“If the Bar wishes to touch on it in its speech, isn’t it it’s right to raise reasons why it supports a different reading of the issue for the benefit of public understanding?” asked Haniff in a statement today...