Judiciary Issue: Conference of Rulers Convenes at Istana Negara

KUALA LUMPUR – The 269th Conference of Rulers (Majlis Raja-Raja) has officially begun at Istana Negara, with all Malay Rulers in attendance to deliberate on the current state and leadership of the Judiciary in Malaysia.

Among the final dignitaries observed entering the palace gates were Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, and Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

Johor was represented by Tunku Temenggong Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar, who attended as the official representative of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

Sabah’s Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Musa Aman, was among the earliest to arrive, followed by Tun Ramli Ngah Talib (Penang), Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Sarawak), and Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam (Melaka).

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Conference of Rulers is expected to decide and announce the appointment of the new Chief Justice during this session — affirming that the government has no interference in the judiciary’s affairs.

The meeting follows a peaceful march by over 600 members of the Malaysian Bar Council, who gathered earlier this week at the Prime Minister’s Office to demand judicial independence.

Their demands included greater transparency in the appointment of senior judges, including the Chief Justice, and the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to safeguard the integrity and independence of the judiciary.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, announced via Facebook that the 269th meeting will be chaired by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin.