Kuala Lampur, July 20 -- In "Duty to uphold independence of judiciary" I wrote of the United Nations (UN) Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary which was adopted by the Seventh UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders held at Milan from August 26 to September 6, 1985 and endorsed by General Assembly resolutions 40/32 of November 29,1985 and 40/146 of December 13, 1985.

Of the 20 basic principles, I explained that Malaysia's duty to uphold the basic principles of independence of the judiciary does not impose on it the duty to extend the tenure of retiring judges notwithstanding their impeccable integrity.

The duty is to select and appoint judges of integrity and ability with appropriate traini...