KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 -- The Malaysian Bar has come to the defence of Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, following recent criticisms from former minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz over her remarks on judicial reforms.

In a statement today, Bar president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab said the criticisms had misrepresented and sensationalised the Chief Justice's comments, which were made during her keynote address at the 24th Commonwealth Law Conference in Malta on April 8.

Nazri had accused Tun Tengku Maimun of insinuating political interference in the judiciary and claimed her support for removing the Prime Minister's role in judicial appointments was a veiled attack on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"Of late, th...