No reason not to extend CJ's tenure, says Ramkarpal
PETALING JAYA : DAP's Ramkarpal Singh has called for the government to extend the tenures of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and two other senior judges, saying there is no compelling reason not to do so.
The Bukit Gelugor MP said while judicial extensions are not automatic, the current circumstances warrant continuity in leadership in the judiciary.
'There seems to be no compelling reason not to extend their tenures.
'It is imperative to allow for a continuation of the status quo of the judiciary's current administration, to ensure a smooth transition when the new batch of Federal Court judges takes over,' he said in a statement.
Ramkarpal pointed out that Tengku Maimun's date for mandatory retirement falls on July 1, as she turns 66 the next day.
He added that Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim is set to retire on July 2, while senior Federal Court judge Nallini Pathmanathan will reach the end of her tenure on Aug 22.
However, Tengku Maimun said last week that there have been no updates regarding the extension of their tenures.
Ramkarpal questioned why the government would not move in line with its own reform agenda, given that it has said on many occasions that institutional reform remains one of its top priorities.
'It is difficult to comprehend why extending the judges' tenures does not align with such an agenda, particularly when many Federal Court judges have retired or are due to retire,' he said.
Ramkarpal said the Federal Constitution allows for tenure extensions, in a provision he said was intended to aid the administration of justice, especially when key positions are being vacated.
'This is not a case of the extension of one judge but three, two of whom are the top two judges in our judicial hierarchy.
'This makes it all the more important for the government to explain why their tenures are not being extended, if that is the case,' he said.
Under Article 125(1) of the Federal Constitution, Federal Court judges may serve until the age of 66, with the possibility of a six-month extension, subject to the approval of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
40 minutes ago
- The Sun
Malaysia and China strengthen defence ties in Anwar-Xu meeting
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim welcomed General Xu Xueqiang, China's Minister of Equipment Development, for a courtesy call today. The meeting focused on enhancing Malaysia-China bilateral relations, particularly in defence and security collaboration. Anwar emphasised Malaysia's commitment to deepening ties with China in strategic technology and joint military exercises. He acknowledged China's role in regional stability, including mediation efforts between Cambodia and Thailand. The Prime Minister also praised China's support in addressing the Myanmar crisis. Anwar expressed his intention to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in early September. - Bernama
Malay Mail
40 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
LRT platform barriers may be introduced to improve safety for PwDs, says Transport Minister
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — The absence of platform barriers at Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations has been identified as one of the contributing factors to incidents involving passengers, particularly persons with disabilities (PwDs). Transport Minister Anthony Loke said earlier-generation rail stations, especially LRT stations, were designed without physical barriers between platforms and trains, unlike newer facilities such as Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations which are fully equipped with safety systems. 'So, Prasarana is now looking into proposals to install (barriers) between the platform and the tracks. Although it may not be possible to close the entire gap completely, we aim to minimise it by placing a barrier between the platform and the tracks. 'Implementing this (installation of barriers at older stations) would require significant expenditure because it involves redesigning all these rail stations, and it would also take a considerable amount of time,' he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. He was responding to a supplementary question from Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut), who asked about the main weaknesses identified following the tragic death of a visually impaired man who fell and was run over by a train at the Wangsa Maju LRT Station last February. Loke said that, for now, auxiliary police personnel have been stationed at the affected stations and are trained to be more alert and sensitive to the needs of the PwD community to prevent such incidents from recurring. He said the government remains committed to improving accessibility and inclusiveness within the public transportation system, including upgrading PwD-friendly facilities currently underway, and installing lifts at older and rural Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) stations. 'Rail service operators also continuously provide training to their frontline staff to assist and facilitate the needs of PwD passengers. This is to ensure that appropriate assistance is delivered professionally, empathetically, and efficiently,' he said. He was replying to the original question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera), who inquired about ongoing efforts to improve accessibility for PwD users in utilising public transport. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysian semiconductor exports remain exempt from US tariffs, says Tengku Zafrul
Investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said his ministry is working closely with BNM to assess the full impact of the US's 100% tariff on semiconductor chips and its effect on various supply chains in Malaysia. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz says Malaysian semiconductor exports to the US are exempted from the 100% tariff announced by US president Donald Trump yesterday. Malaysia is the world's sixth-largest semiconductor exporter, and Tengku Zafrul today said the tariff would have 'serious implications' for major exporting countries like Malaysia. 'As of now, Malaysian semiconductor exports to the US remain exempt from these retaliatory tariffs,' he told the Dewan Rakyat. 'However, this exemption is subject to review and could change at any time depending on the US administration's policy direction. Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng earlier asked Tengku Zafrul to clarify what concessions Malaysia had made in exchange for the 19% US tariff, as well as its impact on the economy and cost of living. He also inquired about the government's plans to cushion potential price increases and expressed concern over Trump's proposal to impose a 100% tariff on imported semiconductors unless companies invest in the US. Lim also asked whether Malaysia's current exemptions could be at risk. In an event at a hotel here earlier today, Tengku Zafrul said his ministry is working closely with Bank Negara Malaysia to assess the full impact of the tariff and its effect on various supply chains. He also said about 65% of Malaysia's semiconductor exports to the US come from American companies operating in Malaysia. Malaysia is the world's sixth-largest semiconductor exporter, with electrical and electronics (E&E) exports surpassing RM600 billion last year. On Monday, Tengku Zafrul told the Dewan Rakyat that semiconductor products were exempted from the 19% tariff imposed on goods from Malaysia. However, he said the US government was investigating whether extensive reliance on foreign imports of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors poses a national security threat. He noted today that 60% of Malaysia's exports to the US are in the E&E sector, and within that, 68% are semiconductors. Of that 68%, 65% are exported by American companies operating in Malaysia. Tengku Zafrul also called for more clarity on the tariffs after noting that the US government has yet to officially announce the mechanism for implementing them. He added that Putrajaya is actively engaging with American companies operating in Malaysia, especially under the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, to understand the implications of Trump's latest announcement. Yesterday, Trump said the 100% tariff on semiconductor imports would not apply to companies that were already producing semiconductor chips in the US or had plans to do so. 'American firms such as Intel and Texas Instruments have major operations in Malaysia and supply chains involving thousands of local SMEs, and around 7,000 local suppliers supporting 70,000 workers,' he said. 'These firms also have factories in the US, but we are seeking clarification from US authorities about whether 'investing in the US' means new investments … or whether existing facilities count. 'We need clearer answers to protect our supply chain ecosystem and to avoid disruptions.'
