PM plans judiciary reforms tonight!

PM will anounce his plans for the judiciary reforms and express regrets over 1988 crisis at JW Marriott Hotel tonight, I’ll be there as the BC is hosting the dinner.  Some of the agendas are as the followings:

• Judicial Commission to appoint judges
• Greater independence for the judiciary
• Financial compensation to sacked judges
• Expression of regret by PM Abdullah

FIGHTING back stiff opposition from his own Cabinet and administration, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is set to unveil major reforms to the country’s much-maligned judiciary.

The reforms will include the setting up of a Judicial Commission that will be responsible for the selection and the promotion of judges. It will also feature changes to the Federal Constitution that will restore greater independence to the judiciary, senior government officials and lawyers said.

Cheers!  Hopefully ada beer later…

DPM: No worries mate!

Najib said earlier that no evidence of UMNO members are about to defect to the opposition:

“We are watching it very closely of course but so far there is no indication of anyone wanting to cross over,” he told reporters.

Still, the statement was a tacit acknowledgment of the deep instability in the Malay party, which has governed Malaysia since independence in 1957 as the dominant member of the National Front coalition.

Anwar Ibrahim said Monday he has the secret support of at least 30 government lawmakers, enough to bring down the government. Anwar’s opposition alliance has 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament and needs 30 more to form a majority of 112.

But Anwar said he does not want to form a government with a wafer-thin majority, and is waiting for more lawmakers to defect before making his move.

Najib said Anwar’s claim may be “gamesmanship,” but added, “we cannot take things for granted either.”

“Gamemanship”?  Hmmm…