Malaysia's King appoints Wan Ahmad Farid as new Chief Justice
Court of Appeal judge Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has been appointed Malaysia's new Chief Justice.
PETALING JAYA - Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar has approved the appointments of three top judicial figures, including Court of Appeal judge Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the new Chief Justice of the Federal Court.
The appointments were made in accordance with the Federal Constitution, following the advice of the Prime Minister and after consultation with the Conference of Rulers, said the Office of the Federal Court Chief Registrar in a statement.
Also appointed are Federal Court judges Datuk Abu Bakar Jais as the President of the Court of Appeal and Datuk Azizah Nawawi as the Chief Judge of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak, replacing the outgoing Chief Judge who is set to retire.
The official swearing-in and presentation of the appointment letters will take place on July 28 at Istana Negara, before the King.
Previously, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid was said to be the front runner for the Chief Justice post.
He was appointed to the Court of Appeal on Nov 12, 2024.
The 62-year-old was previously deputy home minister from March 19, 2008 to April 9, 2009.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore
World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report
Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho
Asia Air India probe into Boeing 787 fuel control switches finds no issues
Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore
Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment
Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes
Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail
He also contested in the Kuala Terengganu state by-election in 2009 but lost.
In 2013, Mr Wan Ahmad Farid, a former Umno member, announced his retirement from politics.
Among the more recent cases he has presided over are the application for a judicial review by the parents of Teoh Beng Hock against the police and Tun Daim Zainuddin's challenge against his probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim has temporarily assumed the role of Chief Justice.
The post had been left vacant without any announcement of a successor following Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat's mandatory retirement on July 2. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
13 minutes ago
- Straits Times
From Van Cleef to Vacheron, luxury gifts at center of probe into South Korea's former first lady
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Lavish items allegedly gifted to South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee include a diamond necklace, a high-end watch and designer shoes. SEOUL – The special counsel investigation into former first lady Kim Keon Hee has turned the spotlight on lavish items allegedly gifted to her during her husband's rise to the presidency and his time in office, including a diamond necklace, a high-end watch and designer shoes. Among the most notable luxury items is a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond necklace, which Ms Kim wore while accompanying then-president Yoon Suk Yeol on their first overseas trip as the presidential couple to the Natosummit in June 2022. The Snowflake Pendant, crafted from 18K white gold and set with brilliant-cut diamonds, is currently listed on Van Cleef & Arpels' official website for approximately 83.5 million won (S$77,400), but at the time Ms Kim wore it, it reportedly sold for 60 million won. Yoon's office initially claimed that Ms Kim had borrowed the necklace from an acquaintance. However, in a written statement to prosecutors in May, Ms Kim said the necklace was a counterfeit. During questioning by the special counsel team on Aug 6, Ms Kim claimed she had purchased the fake in Hong Kong in 2010 as a gift for her mother and later borrowed it for the Nato trip. On Aug 12, the special counsel team revealed that it had obtained testimony from Seohee Construction confirming that the company had purchased the necklace and gifted it to Ms Kim. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sengkang-Punggol LRT line back to full service: SBS Transit World US trade team will meet Chinese officials in two or three months, Bessent says Singapore From survivable to liveable: The making of a green city Asia DPM Gan kicks off India visit in Mumbai as Singapore firms ink investment agreements Multimedia World Photography Day: Celebrating the art of image-making Business CDL H1 profit rises 3.9% to S$91.2 million; declares 3 cent per share special dividend World Ukraine, sidelined in Trump-Putin summit, fights Russian grab for more territory Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story The investigators have also secured the necklace itself, they added. Also under scrutiny is a Vacheron Constantin watch. Investigators suspect that a Historic American 1921 model from the high-end brand, valued at approximately 54 million won at a Seoul boutique in September 2022, was allegedly delivered to Ms Kim by a businessperson surnamed Seo. He claimed to have purchased the watch at a discounted price of 35 million won through a 'VIP discount'. While Mr Seo claims he was simply running an errand for the former first lady, investigators suspect the luxury watch may have been given in exchange for a business favour. The main reason the special counsel team suspects a quid pro quo is the deal Mr Seo's company signed with the presidential office in September 2022, which was for a pilot program using robot dogs for security. It was found that the Presidential Security Service had allocated 800 million won to buy robot dogs — a plan that was scrapped after it was revealed by the local daily Hankyoreh. Raids on the homes of Ms Kim and her family have also uncovered other luxury items, including shoes from Chanel. The shoes are suspected of having been gifted by people related to the religious group Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. But questions remain over the shoe size, as the Chanel shoes allegedly intended for Ms Kim were size 39 (European), equivalent to about 245mm to 255mm. This is smaller than Ms Kim's reported shoe size of 260mm. Ms Kim was previously embroiled in controversy after accepting a luxury Christian Dior handbag , valued at 3 million won, from a Korean American pastor in 2022. Their meeting was secretly recorded on a hidden camera, and the footage was released by an online media outlet in November 2023. Prosecutors concluded there was no basis for a criminal charge in the case. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
13 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Mixed reactions among Malaysian drivers on S'pore's move to clamp down on illegal ride-hailing services
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox According to the LTA, 136 drivers have been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services since 2022. JOHOR BAHRU - Singapore's recent move to clamp down on illegal ride-hailing services within the republic and across the border with Malaysia has sparked mixed reactions among local drivers. While some feel that the move to go after illegal services is within the island nation's right, Malaysian drivers who carpool to work feel victimised, especially with the Singapore Land and Transport Authority (LTA) detaining suspected vehicles for investigations. One driver, who wished to be known only as Mr Tan, said he was just helping send his friends home after work as they live nearby in Skudai when they were detained at the Tuas Checkpoint for several hours. 'I feel that the authorities should give a warning or reminder before seizing my multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) as I am not using it to make money. 'I have been working in Singapore for some time. Each morning, I help send my friends to Singapore before I head to work. Later, I pick them up at the same location to drive back home,' he said. Mr Tan said he is just doing this to help friends who happen to work near his company. 'However, we will split the petrol and vehicle entry permit charges at $35 per day. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sengkang-Punggol LRT line back to full service: SBS Transit World US trade team will meet Chinese officials in two or three months, Bessent says Singapore From survivable to liveable: The making of a green city Asia DPM Gan kicks off India visit in Mumbai as Singapore firms ink investment agreements Multimedia World Photography Day: Celebrating the art of image-making Business CDL H1 profit rises 3.9% to S$91.2 million; declares 3 cent per share special dividend World Ukraine, sidelined in Trump-Putin summit, fights Russian grab for more territory Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story 'The LTA should go after those who do illegal business for a fee instead of nabbing anyone with a Malaysian-registered MPV,' he added. Asked about the status of his car, Mr Tan said he is still waiting for the outcome of the probe. But he expressed concerns that he could face a fine of S$3,000 for allegedly committing an offence in the island republic. Another car owner, known only as Mr Chung, said he too had his family MPV seized when he was accused of providing an illegal ride-hailing service in Singapore. 'I work in Singapore and send my friends, who all live near my home in Tebrau, to work and back. 'I do not do any door-to-door pick-up services, but just drop off and pick them up along the way,' he said, adding that he does not charge them but accepts any cost sharing from his friends. Mr Chung said he has been having sleepless nights waiting for the outcome of the investigation after being stopped at the Tuas Checkpoint and questioned for several hours. Meanwhile, a Singaporean limousine services operator, known only as Mr Ben, said recent LTA operations at the checkpoints are showing results as they are now getting up to 25 to 30 extra trips daily to pick up and send customers within Singapore or to Malaysia. 'Previously, we would get one or two trips every few days but since the operations began, we have been able to get more customers. 'These illegal operators from Malaysia usually undercut our prices up to 40 per cent and that really hurts our business. 'We also pay higher insurance premiums to cover our passengers, not just in Singapore but also in Malaysia,' he said, adding that many illegal Malaysian operators do not have insurance coverage in Singapore. Separately, the LTA said in a statement that some 19 drivers were caught offering illegal ride-hailing services within Singapore and across the border on Aug 5. They were nabbed after a combined operation with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority that targeted such activities at a land checkpoint and through LTA's patrols at Gardens by the Bay and Changi Airport. This is the first time both agencies conducted such an operation at a land checkpoint which saw suspected vehicles getting impounded. According to the LTA, 136 drivers have been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services since 2022. Those who have been charged and convicted so far have been fined up to $2,600 and had their vehicles forfeited. Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling said in a Facebook post on Aug 6 that the LTA was ramping up its enforcement against such illegal services because these drivers do not have proper licence and insurance coverage. 'This put their passengers at risk and affect the livelihoods of law-abiding licensed drivers,' she said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Man arrested after police gun is fired at Sydney Airport
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The incident took place at the domestic terminal of Sydney Airport. SYDNEY - Australia's busiest airport was briefly thrown into chaos on the morning of Aug 13 when a police officer's gun was fired as authorities tried to arrest a suspect. Australian Federal Police said a 'police firearm was discharged' during an incident inside the domestic terminal of Sydney Airport. Footage released by local media showed an officer checking his rifle as two other people pinned a man to the ground. Local media reported the gun was fired as the man tried to wrest it from the officer. Witnesses said they heard a loud bang before the dining area went into lockdown, Sydney radio station 2GB reported. 'An investigation into the incident has been launched and a crime scene has been established,' police said in a statement. 'There were no injuries as a result of the incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sengkang-Punggol LRT line back to full service: SBS Transit World US trade team will meet Chinese officials in two or three months, Bessent says Singapore From survivable to liveable: The making of a green city Asia DPM Gan kicks off India visit in Mumbai as Singapore firms ink investment agreements Multimedia World Photography Day: Celebrating the art of image-making World Ukraine, sidelined in Trump-Putin summit, fights Russian grab for more territory Opinion Singpass use in dating apps raises difficult questions Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story Sydney Airport said normal operations had since resumed. AFP
