January 22, 2026
World
World
TOKYO, Jan 22 — Japan has halted the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant just hours after it began, though the reactor remains “stable,” the operator said.
PUTRAJAYA, July 15 — The government is currently reviewing the system for appointing top judges to better understand the root of public confusion and concern, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said today.
Speaking at the International Conference on Governance and Integrity 2025, Azalina said a special committee will be formed to examine the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) — both its structure and processes — to identify areas causing a lack of transparency.
“There’s clearly confusion and a lack of clarity from the public’s point of view,” she said. “Where is this confusion coming from? Is it the process itself? The terminology? Perhaps even the word ‘appointment’ in ‘Judicial Appointments Commission’? We need to explore that.”
Azalina noted that although the JAC has functioned since 2009 and oversaw the appointment of five Chief Justices without controversy, recent developments have raised new questions that warrant a closer look.
“This Act came into force in 2009, and until now, there were no problems. But unfortunately, issues have emerged recently, so it’s crucial that we re-examine it thoroughly,” she said.
The upcoming review committee will include representatives from both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, alongside legal scholars, constitutional experts, and members of the Bar Council.
Citing international examples, Azalina noted that different countries adopt different systems — some with judicial commissions, some without. “Even Singapore doesn’t have a JAC. So we need to see what suits our system best, and whether the current structure is still adequate,” she said.
She also clarified that there are no immediate plans to amend the Federal Constitution, as the government is still in the process of consulting experts.
“We need to collect feedback from constitutional scholars, lawyers, and academics. Once we have all the input, I’ll bring it to the Cabinet for discussion on the next steps,” she added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Conference of Rulers is expected to announce the appointment of top judicial figures tomorrow — a move he hopes will help dispel public doubts surrounding the issue.
