Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif explained today that he decided to deliver the sole speech at the opening of the Legal Year as the Malaysian Bar was insistent on bringing up the issue of tenure extension and appointments involving him and Court of Appeal President Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin.

Speaking at a press conference, Justice Raus said he had several meetings with the Bar prior to today's event and had told them to not raise the issue in their speech as the Bar already had filed an application (challenging the appointments) in court.

“So it is not proper for them to raise it here. If you speak on the issue, the attorney-general (Mohamed Apandi Ali) may want to respond to it in his speech. I also looked at two pages of a copy of Malaysian Bar president (George Varughese's) speech, in which he raised the issue.

“They (the Bar) are insisting on raising the issue, which is in court. Objections cannot be raised at a public forum like this. Look, this event is organised by the judiciary. Say there is an invitation sent to people in your house, but you criticise the host - it would be unfair right?

“Hence, we decided to change the format this year, because of their (the Bar's) insistence. I told the AG (Apandi) that there would be one speech, only by me,” Justice Raus said...