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Gombak, 7 October 2021. Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws organises with Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta and Istanbul Medeniyet University the Round Table Discussion on the Development of the Judicial Appointment Process in Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey.

In Malaysia, according to Prof Farid Sufian Shuaib, the appointment process was improved in 2009 with the establishment of the Judicial Appointment Commission. In this respect, the Judicial Appointment Commission provides the list of candidates of judges to the Prime Minister who will decide which names to be given to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after consulting the Conference of Rulers. This is certainly an improvement in the judicial appointment process.

According to Dr Iwan Satriawan, after the political reform in Indonesia, the appointment process was improved such as for the appointment process of the judges of the Supreme Court. The Judicial Commission selects the candidates to be considered by the House of Representative and then submitted for the consideration of the President.

Dr Murat Tumay emphasises the importance of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors in the judicial appointment process in accordance with the Turkish Constitution. The Council has the responsibility to ensure independence of the courts and the security of tenure of judges. Reforms were made in the appointment process of the Council to ensure diversity in the judiciary.

Dr Mohd Iqbal Abdul Wahab, the moderator of the Round Table Discussion concludes that although the judicial appointment process is very important to ensure a competent and independent judiciary, the people involved in the process will in the end determine whether the system works.