Ramkarpal backs tenure extension for Tengku Maimun, two senior judges
KUALA LUMPUR A DAP member of parliament has expressed his backing for extending the tenure of Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and two other senior judges, saying it would end uncertainty over their positions and help advance the unity government's reform agenda.
Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, who is also DAP national legal bureau chairman, said there appeared to be no compelling reason not to extend the tenures of Tengku Maimun, Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, and Federal Court judge Tan Sri Datuk Nallini Pathmanathan.
"The government has stated on many occasions that institutional reform remains one of its top priorities and it is difficult to comprehend why the extension of the tenures of the said judges does not align with such an agenda, particularly at a time when many Federal Court judges have retired or are due to retire.
"In the circumstances, it is imperative to allow for a continuation of the status quo of the current administration of the judiciary in order to ensure a smooth transition when the new batch of Federal Court judges takes over," he said in a statement today.
Ramkarpal added that the Federal Constitution provides for the extension of Federal Court judges' tenure, and that such a provision must have been intended, among other things, to facilitate the administration of justice.
This, he said, is precisely what needs to be done now, given the number of vacancies that will arise following the mandatory retirement of several Federal Court judges, as previously mentioned.
"It must also be pointed out that 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, which makes it all the more important for the government to explain why their tenures are not being extended if that was the case.
"The said three judges have performed their duties well and have preserved, protected and defended the Constitution in accordance with their oaths of office and as such, there certainly is merit in extending their tenures for a further six months.
"The government should seriously consider doing so as this would certainly enhance the perception of its commitment to reform," he said.
It was previously reported that the Malaysian Bar had expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the extension of tenure for Tengku Maimun, Abang Iskandar and Nallini.
Its vice-president Anand Raj had said it was unusual for the Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal or a senior Federal Court judge not to be granted a six-month extension.
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