logo
Malaysia's third-ranked judge to take on Chief Justice duties until position is filled

Malaysia's third-ranked judge to take on Chief Justice duties until position is filled

CNA5 days ago
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's third-ranked judge, Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, will take on the duties of the Chief Justice following Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat's retirement on Wednesday (Jul 2).
Judge Hasnah will exercise the powers of the Chief Justice 'until that position is filled', said the Chief Registrar's Office of the Federal Court of Malaysia on Thursday.
Malaysia's top two judiciary positions are vacant after Tengku Maimun retired as Chief Justice when she turned 66 on Wednesday, and Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim retired as the President of the Court of Appeal when he turned 66 a day later.
Judge Hasnah reached the mandatory retirement age of 66 in May, but her term was extended by six months until mid-November by Malaysia's king.
The Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Abdul Rahman Sebli, will retire this month when his six-month extension ends.
The statement by the Chief Registrar's Office did not mention the role of the Court of Appeal president, but it added: "The Malaysian Judiciary remains steadfast in carrying out its responsibility as the guardian of justice and will continue to serve the people and the nation with utmost dedication.'
The judicial vacancies at the highest level have caused disquiet in Malaysia's legal and political circles.
On Monday, the Malaysian Bar slammed the 'silence and indecision on matters concerning the highest level of the judiciary', calling it 'indefensible' and a 'failure in institutional responsibility'.
'A breakdown in governance risks damaging public confidence in the judiciary and opens the door to speculation and unhealthy conjecture,' said Malaysian Bar president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab, whose body comprises the country's 21,400 advocates and solicitors.
The Democratic Action Party (DAP), which is part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's governing coalition, on Tuesday called for a six-month extension for Tengku Maimun and Abang Iskandar 'given their contributions and performances'.
There will be 'many vacancies left in the Federal Court due to the recent and impending retirements of Federal Court judges', the DAP's central working committee said in a statement.
CNA reported in February that nine of the 14 judges of the Federal Court, the country's apex judicial body, are reaching the retirement age within months of each other.
Extending Tengku Maimun and Abang Iskandar's terms would 'ensure a smooth transition of new appointees to the Federal Court in due course', the DAP committee added.
However, Communications Minister and government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the Cabinet did not deliberate in detail on the appointment of a new Chief Justice during its meeting on Wednesday.
The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as Anwar is currently on a week-long working visit to Italy, France and Brazil, Fahmi said, as reported by news outlet Malay Mail.
PRIME MINISTER'S ROLE IN APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES
The Chief Justice is appointed by the king, also known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on the prime minister's advice and after consultation with the Conference of Rulers made up of the heads of the country's royal households.
Malaysia established a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) in 2009 that proposes qualified judicial candidates to the prime minister.
The JAC Act was meant to ensure that the selection process of judges would be unbiased, but lawyers told CNA previously that, in practice, new appointments often attract intense lobbying by politicians and segments in Malaysia's royal households.
There has been talk that Terrirudin Mohd Salleh – Malaysia's former Attorney General who was appointed to the Federal Court in November 2024 with the backing of Anwar –is being promoted by politicians and segments of the royal households to be the next Chief Justice, CNA reported in February.
In April, then-Chief Justice Tengku Maimun said removing the prime minister's role in the appointment of judges could free it from any perception of political influence.
There have been proposals to amend the JAC Act 2009 and the Federal Constitution to remove the role of the prime minister in the appointment of judges, she said in a speech at the 24th Commonwealth Law conference in Malta, as reported by news site Free Malaysia Today.
'Such changes, in my view, would reinforce the impartiality of the selection process, ensuring that judicial appointments remain firmly grounded on merit and free from any perception of political influence,' she said.
Anwar said on Monday he has never interfered in judicial matters including the appointment of judges.
"When someone retires, their service is not automatically extended," he said at the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly.
"Some asked if this is the prime minister's decision? But if one understands the Federal Constitution, they would know the process," he said, as reported by media outlet New Straits Times (NST).
"Just look at the recent appointments where they go to the King, then are presented for discussion with the Conference of Rulers. So all these procedures must be followed,' he said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Reform Party to leave opposition alliance PAR by end of July
Reform Party to leave opposition alliance PAR by end of July

CNA

time5 hours ago

  • CNA

Reform Party to leave opposition alliance PAR by end of July

SINGAPORE: The Reform Party (RP) announced on Monday (Jul 7) night that it has withdrawn from the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR), the three-party opposition alliance with the Peoples Voice (PV) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). "Reform Party wishes to announce that regretfully we have resigned from People's Alliance for Reform," said RP secretary-general Mr Jeyaretnam in a Facebook post. "This will formally take effect at the end of July. "We thank (PAR secretary-general) Lim Tean for his leadership and wish him and the other remaining parties in PAR all the best in the future." The exit of RP leaves PAR with just PV and DPP. Formed in 2023, PAR was originally a four-party opposition alliance, including the People's Power Party (PPP). In February, the PPP withdrew from the alliance three months before the General Election, citing "irreconcilable strategic differences". PAR lost in all six constituencies - Jalan Besar GRC, Tanjong Pagar GRC, Potong Pasir SMC, Radin Mas SMC and Queenstown SMC - that it contested at the General Election on May 3. RP treasurer Mahaboob Batcha made his electoral debut as PAR's candidate in Queenstown SMC. The People's Action Party's (PAP) Eric Chua secured 81.13 per cent of the vote against Mr Batcha. After the electoral defeat of all 13 PAR candidates, Mr Lim had vowed the alliance would 'reorganise and come back much stronger in four to five years' for the next General Election. CNA has contacted Mr Lim and Mr Jeyaretnam for more information.

Rubio to attend ASEAN meeting in first Asia trip
Rubio to attend ASEAN meeting in first Asia trip

CNA

time8 hours ago

  • CNA

Rubio to attend ASEAN meeting in first Asia trip

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make his first trip to Asia since taking up his post, travelling this week to Malaysia for meetings with ASEAN allies, his office said on Monday (Jul 7). The trip, starting Tuesday, will see Rubio, who is also US national security advisor, focus on US policy in Asia after months of the Trump administration concentrating on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. "In his first trip to Asia as Secretary of State, Secretary Rubio is focused on reaffirming the United States' commitment to advancing a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region," spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement, using Washington's traditional wording alluding to the growing influence of China in the Asia-Pacific region. As with any trip to Asia by a US official, China will be the elephant in the room amid concerns over its expansionary behaviour in the South China Sea, which the United States deems to be provocative. The visit also comes as many countries around the world are waiting for the next step in President Donald Trump's tariff wars. Sweeping levies announced in April were mostly suspended, as Washington engages in negotiations with friends and foes alike. A deadline on the tariffs is due to expire on Wednesday, with Trump suggesting elevated levies would snap back into place on Aug 1 for any trading partners who do not make a deal.

Where is Michael Petraeus? Some Singaporeans wonder if pro-PAP blogger's Facebook account is gone
Where is Michael Petraeus? Some Singaporeans wonder if pro-PAP blogger's Facebook account is gone

Independent Singapore

time8 hours ago

  • Independent Singapore

Where is Michael Petraeus? Some Singaporeans wonder if pro-PAP blogger's Facebook account is gone

SINGAPORE: The Polish blogger Michael Petraeus appears to be missing from some social media spaces recently, and some in Singapore are wondering if his Facebook page has been taken down. However, the Critical Spectator Facebook account is still live, as is Mr Petraeus' blog, which carries the same name. Its most recent post, which took aim at Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh, was posted on Jul 1. On Instagram, it says that Mr Petraeus' account is unavailable, and on X (formerly Twitter), it says that an account for @michaelpetraeus has been suspended, although the Critical Spectator account on X still seems to be active. Mr Petraeus' account's absence has not gone unnoticed. One Singaporean Facebook user asked if he was 'finally' gone, adding that if the account had indeed been taken down, it would have been 'such a win for internet policing and anti-cyberbullying.' Mr Petraeus has long been a champion for the ruling party and its policies, and his posts have at times been shared by the wife of former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Ms Ho Ching. In early May, she shared his post commenting on the argument between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy . See also Can Facebook solve the fake news crisis? Later that month, however, acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim took to Facebook to call Mr Petraeus out concerning a post he had made that was critical of former President Halimah Yacob. 'I'm gravely concerned about the recent remarks made by Critical Spectator,' he wrote, adding, 'In times like these, we need more understanding, not division. We must never allow dismissive or divisive rhetoric—local or foreign—to erode the mutual respect and unity we have worked so hard to build in our multicultural society.' Other Singaporeans have also taken to social media to express their unhappiness with the content of Mr Petraeus' posts, including one from Adrian Ang that went viral . In May, a petition was even circulated asking for the Polish blogger's residential status to be revoked. 'Mr Petraeus has consistently engaged in activities that many Singaporeans perceive as intrusive and disrespectful to our nation's sovereignty and social harmony. 'While we value freedom of expression… Mr Petraeus's actions have consistently crossed the line from commentary to interference and insult,' the petition states. If he had been banned from Facebook, this would not be the first time. The Critical Spectator page was removed in July 2020 for three weeks around the time the General Election was held that year. /TISG Read also: Ex-SG PM's wife shares pro-PAP blogger's post calling out 'abuse' Zelenskyy suffered at Oval Office

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store