Rights group calls for transparency, equal treatment in judicial extensions
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat is expected to retire on July 2, Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim on July 1, and senior Federal Court judge Nallini Pathmanathan on Aug 22.
PETALING JAYA : The National Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam) says it is concerned that three senior judges, including Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, have not received the customary six-month extension offers despite their imminent retirement dates.
The rights group said that while six-month extensions were granted to five other senior judges – including Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli – similar extensions were not granted to Tengku Maimun, Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, and senior Federal Court judge Nallini Pathmanathan.
In a statement, Hakam president M Ramachelvam said the country's judiciary was at a pivotal moment as nine Federal Court judges were set to retire this year.
He said the decision to extend their tenures must be guided by clear, consistent, and transparent criteria.
'The current situation raises troubling questions: why have extensions been granted to some Federal Court judges but not to the chief justice, the Court of Appeal president, and Justice Nallini Pathmanathan?
'There is an apparent selective approach to extending the tenures of senior judges in Malaysia's Federal Court.
'This unequal and opaque application of Article 125(1) of the Federal Constitution raises serious questions about the government's commitment to judicial independence and threatens the integrity of our nation's justice system at a critical juncture.'
Article 125 of the Federal Constitution states that superior court judges shall hold office until the age of 66, although their tenures can be extended for up to six months by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Abang Iskandar is scheduled to retire on July 1 while Tengku Maimun retires the following day. Nallini will retire on Aug 22.
Ramachelvam said there was a need to establish clear, objective criteria for judicial extensions that prioritise merit, experience, and institutional stability over other considerations.
He also demanded transparency in the decision-making process for judicial appointments and extensions, saying a truly independent judiciary was the cornerstone of democracy and the protection of human rights in Malaysia.
'The stability of our judiciary as well as public, business, and investor confidence in our legal system depend on fair and equal treatment for our most senior judges,' he said.
'In this critical period of transition, Malaysia cannot afford to lose the institutional knowledge, experience, and principled leadership that these senior judges provide.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
44 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Immigration Department denies issuing viral statement on Korban meat distribution
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) has denied issuing any statement regarding guidelines for the distribution of 'Qurban' (sacrificial) meat at mosques in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration. JIM Deputy Director-General (Management) Ismail Mokhtar said the department was aware of the statement, dated June 5, 2025, that had gone viral. 'For the record, the statement is false and has never been issued by JIM,' he said in a statement here today. He also advised the public to always refer to the department's official channels for accurate and authentic information. 'JIM takes the dissemination of false information seriously, especially when it can lead to public confusion. Any unauthorised use of the department's official emblem and name is an offence and may be subject to legal action,' he added. The fake statement, dated June 5, 2025, that went viral, used the name of Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban. Among the things claimed in the statement was that only foreign nationals with valid work permits and visas, or those with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards, were allowed to receive Qurban meat at mosques. It also said that illegal immigrants who collected the meat would face immediate action. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Bersatu's centrist shift questioned after backing Dr M's ‘Malay unity' effort
Bersatu leaders such as Hamzah Zainudin and Saifuddin Abdullah have been seen to be pushing 'rather moderate' views and actions of late. PETALING JAYA : An analyst has questioned Bersatu's sincerity in pivoting towards a more moderate and centrist political position, after lending its support to Dr Mahathir Mohamad's latest effort to supposedly restore Malay political power. Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin and others like Saifuddin Abdullah have been pushing 'rather moderate' views and actions of late, following Hamzah's election as Bersatu deputy president late last year. This included Hamzah's vision of a 'new national consensus' that goes beyond one race or religion and serves to close the gap between political and societal divisions in the country. Mazlan said this apparent shift for Bersatu was apt given Malaysia's multiracial environment, adding that it could even pose a threat to Pakatan Harapan, which has enjoyed the bulk of non-Malay support in recent general elections. However, he said non-Malay voters would stay away and not support PN after it lent support to Mahathir's new platform. 'People will now question whether Bersatu is sincere about bringing national reconciliation,' he told FMT. Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said it was typical of politicians to use almost contradictory tones and themes in speaking to different audiences. As PN and Bersatu cannot afford to sacrifice its core support of Malay-Muslim voters, they would support Mahathir's new endeavour to unite the Malays, he said. 'To a Singaporean audience, and more so a reputable think tank like ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute where Bersatu's Wan Saiful Wan Jan was a visiting fellow in 2016, we would expect PN delegates to speak in quasi-liberal language, and in English to boot, making it less accessible to Malay kampung folk. 'But to a Malay-oriented audience, PN doesn't want to sacrifice its core support and will continue to support initiatives of venerable figures like Mahathir, notwithstanding the contradictions it poses,' he said. Fauzi added that this was not dissimilar to DAP, which would have certain leaders appealing to Chinese sentiments while others who may be more Western-educated take a more centrist tone in their rhetoric. 'In short, it's simply political doublespeak characteristic of identity-driven politicians.' Speaking at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute last month, Hamzah had unveiled PN's 'new national consensus' vision which he said must unite all Malaysians, from the political class to religious leaders and civil society. His party colleague, Bersatu Supreme Council member Saifuddin Abdullah, had also called for political parties to shift towards a centrist approach and avoid extreme political ideologies given Malaysia's diverse society. Saifuddin said moderation lay at the heart of Bersatu's new ideology premised on inclusivity, democracy, moderation, integrity, and compassion, adding that it reflected the party's commitment to serving all Malaysians. Fauzi said it was important to note that Bersatu's leaders had more than one school of thought driving their ideologies, describing the likes of Saifuddin and Wan Saiful as more inclusive with 'a flair in English'. On the other hand, he said Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and those aligned with the former prime minister were more inclined towards ethno-religious-centric politics. 'Hamzah, as front runner to succeed Muhyiddin at the helm of PN and Bersatu, treads both paths, knowing that at this juncture PN cannot afford to lose either school of thought. PN needs to appear inclusive without alienating grassroots Malay support.'
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
‘Our data is not a plaything'
Briefing about the upcoming 5th World Presidents' Conference by Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. 28 NOVEMBER 2024 一 CHAN TAK KONG/The Star PETALING JAYA: The government's move to collect detailed phone and Internet usage records from telecommunications companies has crossed the line and is a breach of the people's right to privacy, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic). He argued that such detailed data collection is unnecessary for policymaking in the information, communications and technology (ICT) and tourism sectors, as claimed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). 'This is not about whether we trust the current government. The real question is: why does the government need such detailed information about its citizens?' Dr Wee asked in a Facebook post. 'Today, it's for analysing tourism statistics, but who knows what it will be used for tomorrow? 'If the aim is to count tourists or active broadband users, aggregate data is more than sufficient. There's no need for personal data.' It was previously reported that, according to industry sources, the government had instructed local telcos in April to hand over detailed call and Internet usage logs for the first quarter of the year under a so-called 'Mobile Phone Data' project. The data requested reportedly included call logs and IP call records, as well as precise location information, including latitude and longitude. Telcos were also warned that failure to comply would constitute an offence under the Communications and Multimedia Act, punishable by a RM20,000 fine or up to six months in jail. MCMC has since clarified that the data is intended to support evidence-based policymaking in the ICT and tourism sectors. The commission also stressed that the data would be anonymised before submission, with no personally identifiable information included. 'In both cases, no individual subscriber can be identified through the data collected,' MCMC said in a statement. However, Dr Wee remained unconvinced, warning that anonymised data, when combined with other data points, could still be traced back to individuals. 'If you're collecting data on who we call, how long the calls last, our IP addresses, and our exact location at specific times and dates, then it's very easy for someone with access to this data to piece it together and uncover our identities,' he said. Dr Wee also pointed out that cross-referencing data from mobile apps like MySejahtera, e-wallets, CCTV footage, Touch 'n Go, and banking records would further erode individual privacy. MCMC also claimed that extensive engagement with telcos over the past two years had taken place to ensure the safe transfer of data, a claim Dr Wee challenged. 'If everything was agreed upon and safely in place, why the need to issue threats to telcos?' he asked. Ultimately, Dr Wee said, the issue transcends politics and is about protecting the rights of Malaysians. 'Our personal data doesn't belong to any government, not the one today, tomorrow or those to come. 'When a government starts collecting such detailed data, it has already crossed a line. 'The people must speak up. Our data is not a plaything.'
