Further reforms to the judicial appointment process should involve reducing the prime minister's powers to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the final selection of judges, according to panellists at a discussion organised by Bersih today.

The discussion followed the electoral watchdog's launch of its research report titled "Safeguarding Judicial Independence: Appointment, Promotion and Removal of Judges in Malaysia", written by lawyer Serene Lim.

Former Malaysian Bar president Steven Thiru said while the formation of the Judicial Appointment Commission (JAC) in 2009 brought...