Kuala Lampur, July 19 -- Three months ago I wrote that the first reformative step towards strengthening the independence of the judiciary is to amend Article 122B(1) of the Federal Constitution.

Article 122B(1) reads as follows:

"The Chief Justice of the Federal Court, the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Judges of the High Courts and (subject to Article 122C) the other judges of the Federal Court, of the Court of Appeal and of the High Courts shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, after consulting the Conference of Rulers." (Emphasis added)

Lest we forget, Article 122B(1) has been as it is since Malaysia Day on September 16, 1963. Over more than 60 years, the provisio...