Retired chief judge told to ‘toe the line’ by senior judicial figure

Retired chief judge told to ‘toe the line’ by senior judicial figure

RETIRED chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli revealed he was pressured by a senior judicial figure to rule in favour of a litigant in a controversial constitutional case against the federal government.


In his farewell speech marking his retirement, Abdul Rahman said the pressure came while he was a Federal Court judge after he had circulated his draft judgement to six other judges. He stood by his decision despite the attempt to influence him.


“I received an email from a very senior member of the judiciary telling me how wrong my opinion was on the constitutional issue,” he said.

“I was a relatively junior (judge) compared to the judges who pressured me.”

Abdul Rahman added that he was essentially asked to toe the line.


According to reports, the case likely refers to Maria Chin Abdullah’s travel ban appeal, where Rahman supported Parliament’s power to limit judicial review, opposing Chief Justice Tengku Maimun’s view that such limits were unconstitutional.

Abdul Rahman’s opinion in the constitutional case was supported by three other judges, forming a narrow 4-3 majority. However, the decision was later overturned by a three-member Federal Court panel in an unusual move within a year.

Abdul Rahman said judicial independence also means being free from pressure by fellow judges, not just outside interference.

“Peer pressure can be a powerful force within the judiciary, potentially affecting judicial decisions and the overall administration of justice,” he said. — July 26, 2025