KUALA LUMPUR: A peaceful protest will be organised by the Malaysian Bar over investigations into Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.

       This was one of the resolutions approved at a Malaysian Bar extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held here Friday (May 27).

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       According to the Malaysian Bar, the probe was an intimidation against the judiciary.

       "The Malaysian Bar condemns in the strongest possible terms the unprecedented manner in which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has publicly announced the commencement of criminal investigation of a superior court judge and disclosed the judge’s name to the public.

       "This is tantamount to an act of intimidation against the judiciary.

       "We condemn any interference with the independence of the judiciary and breaches of the fundamental principle of separation of powers.

       "The Malaysian Bar shall take immediate and necessary steps to organise a peaceful protest at a time and venue deemed suitable by the Bar Council," said Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah (pic) at a press conference after the EGM.

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       Cheah said the Bar Council will be meeting on Sunday (May 29) to decide on the date and venue for the protest.

       She added that it could be similar to previous protests organised by the bar, such as the 2007 "Walk for Justice" in Putrajaya and the 2011 "Walk for Freedom" in Kuala Lumpur.

       On April 22, the MACC said it had launched an investigation on claims that there were funds transferred to Mohd Nazlan's account during his time as the group general counsel and company secretary of Maybank.

       Mohd Nazlan was the judge who convicted former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the misappropriation of RM42mil in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

       Cheah said besides the protest walk, the Bar Council is also considering filing a legal suit to challenge the MACC’s investigation.

       "We are also considering advocating legislative reform to protect the independence of the judiciary from interference by the executive," said Cheah.

       Cheah said the Malaysian Bar is also calling Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun to act on the matter and "take necessary steps" to protect the institution of the judiciary from intimidation and interference.

       "We want the AG to act on the fact that he also has a role to play to uphold independence of the judiciary," said Cheah.

       The resolution on upholding and protecting the independence of the judiciary was adopted with an "overwhelming" majority by members of the bar at the EGM, said Cheah.

       She added that the presidents of the Sabah Law Society and the Advocates Association of Sarawak were also present at the EGM as observers.

       "On the subject of upholding the independence of the judiciary, we believe that all three Bars are aligned," said Cheah.

       More than 600 members of the Malaysian Bar attended the EGM, which was held at Wisma MCA.