Wan Ahmad Farid was sole candidate for Chief Justice, no last minute changes made, says Anwar
The Prime Minister said the chaos caused by the opposition and other parties before the judicial appointment to the top post was unnecessary. He clarified that he was simply awaiting the consent of the Malay Rulers.
Anwar said this during the Prime Minister's Department's monthly assembly here at the Dewan Da' Seri Endon Puspanitapuri on Monday (July 21).
"With rallies and attacks against me, the issue was politicised for a week. How could I have answered (who the Chief Justice would be)? I had to follow the Federal Constitution and I stated that there is a process. They wanted the guarantee that such and such a person would not be appointed. I could not be ahead of the Malay Ruler before it is endorsed by the King.
"We have not changed the name at the last minute. The name that was given from the start was the name agreed by the Malay Rulers.
"Even the judiciary was politicised in the chaos. Now, all is quiet. Where are those who have heaped attacks on me?" asked Anwar.
He was referring to concerns raised by the Bar Council and opposition parties over the delay in the replacement of the Chief Justice post following the mandatory retirement of Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat on July 2.
On July 18, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, approved the appointments of three top judicial figures, including Court of Appeal judge Wan Ahmad Farid as the new Chief Justice of the Federal Court.
The appointments were made in accordance with Clause (1) of Article 122B of 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.
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