PUTRAJAYA, July 14 — In a rare and symbolic move, members of the Malaysian Bar are taking to the streets today, marching 2.6 kilometres from the Palace of Justice to the Prime Minister’s Office in a “Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence.”
Clad in formal black attire under the sweltering sun, this peaceful protest is a powerful assertion of their role as guardians of justice, marking just the sixth such march in the Bar’s 78-year history. The Malaysian Bar’s latest walk comes amid concerns over judicial independence and the appointment of top judges.
Their memorandum, to be handed over this afternoon, will call for immediate appointments to vacant judicial positions, the selection of judges with proven integrity, and a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into alleged interference with the judiciary.
The march underscores Section 42(1)(a) of the Legal Profession Act 1976, which binds lawyers to uphold justice “without regard to their own interests.” Historically, the Bar’s marches have signaled crisis moments—from the 1981 protest against constitutional amendments, to the 2007 “Walk for Justice” following the VK Lingam video scandal, and the 2022 protest against judicial intimidation.
Each time, the legal fraternity walked not for politics, but for principle. This year’s march comes just ahead of the Conference of Rulers’ meeting from July 15 to 17, during which discussions on judicial appointments may take place.
The Malaysian Bar, which now represents over 23,000 lawyers, will also convene an extraordinary general meeting on July 26 to debate further action and reform proposals. Currently, the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) recommends judges to the Prime Minister, who then advises the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The Bar argues for stronger transparency and independence in this process, citing global best practices. As Malaysia faces growing calls for legal reform, today’s walk serves as a reminder that when lawyers march, it is because something fundamental to justice is at stake.
