No regrets, says retiring CJ Tengku Maimun
PUTRAJAYA : Outgoing Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat says she does not have any regret about her time served in the post or unhappiness over her tenure not being extended.
Speaking to the media at the main lobby of the Palace of Justice on her last day today, Tengku Maimun said it had been a great privilege and honour to serve as the 16th chief justice of the Malaysian judiciary.
'No regrets. The fact that my tenure as chief justice has not been extended for another six months, that's also no issue. Six months is insignificant compared with the six years (served in the post),' she said.
Tengku Maimun reaches the mandatory retirement age of 66 tomorrow, with today being her last day in office.
She became the first woman to helm the judiciary when she was appointed chief justice in 2019.
Her expected successor, Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, is due to retire just a day later, while Federal Court judge Nallini Pathmanathan will retire in August.
Their retirement has been the centre of heated discussion lately, with the Malaysian Bar saying yesterday that it was deeply concerned over the lack of a formally announced successor to Tengku Maimun.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also said yesterday that extensions to the service of top judges must follow the procedures set out in the Federal Constitution.
He said the apparent campaign to pressure the government to either extend or end specific tenures could politicise institutions meant to remain independent.
Tengku Maimun said she hoped that her successor would continue her legacy.
'Going by the responses I have received from the public, especially in these last few months, and the speeches this morning from lawyers in court at my last sitting, I think I have been able to restore public confidence in the judiciary to an extent.
'My hope is that this legacy will be continued by whoever succeeds me,' she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Lawyer moots designated areas for peaceful assemblies
Lawyer Andrew Khoo said peaceful assemblies should be allowed and that the police should facilitate them as required by law. PETALING JAYA : A lawyer has proposed that the government designate areas for peaceful assemblies nationwide, following the Federal Court's decision yesterday that the penalty for failing to notify the police of proposed rallies is unconstitutional. Andrew Khoo, a former co-chair of the Bar Council's constitutional law committee, said the decision of the apex court affirmed the freedom to peacefully assemble. 'After 13 years of the coming into force of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, it is well past due for the state and federal governments to designate convenient and easily accessible places in every town and city in the country to hold peaceful assemblies,' he said in a statement. Khoo added that the proposed 'maidan' or public squares should be places where the voice of the people is heard, not feared. 'Maidan' is a term of Persian origin referring to designated open spaces where the public can gather and exercise their right to assemble. Khoo said peaceful assemblies should be allowed, and that the police should facilitate them as required by law. 'The proper legal recourse lies in the Penal Code for any violation of peace and order by the organisers or participants of the assembly,' he said. The Federal Court had unanimously ruled that it is unconstitutional to criminalise the failure to notify the police five days in advance of holding a peaceful assembly. Outgoing Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, delivering the decision of a five-member panel, said Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 imposes a punishment that exceeds the limits permitted under Article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution. Article 10(1)(b) guarantees the freedom of speech, assembly, and association. She said the section was 'a disproportionate intervention' and amounted to a prohibition rather than a restriction of that right. The decision stemmed from a constitutional challenge brought by former Muda secretary-general Amir Hadi, who was charged in 2022 with failing to give the police five days' notice before organising a protest outside the Sogo shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur. Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said yesterday that his ministry would examine the Federal Court's ruling. The ministry is expected to table an amendment to Section 11 of the Act, which requires organisers of assemblies to obtain the consent of the location's owner or occupier, at the next parliamentary sitting.
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Najib gave conflicting answers over source of funds, court told
SRC International is suing Najib Razak and former CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil for wrongfully receiving company property, and dishonestly and wrongfully conspiring to convert company property for their own use. KUALA LUMPUR : A lawyer for SRC International Sdn Bhd told the High Court today that former prime minister Najib Razak gave conflicting answers when confronted about the source of money that entered into his accounts more than 10 years ago. Lead counsel Lim Chee Wee said Najib had, in his testimony under oath, given various versions of the source of funds that entered his accounts when cross-examined. Submitting at the close of the SRC International trial, Lim said Najib had, in an affidavit affirmed in 2015, claimed that a 'personal donation' of US$700 million and another sum of RM42 million originating from SRC International had been channelled into his account by Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd without his knowledge. 'He first said the affidavit was 'very badly drafted', and then he said the admission was based on 'allegations at that time'. 'He later said that he was 'misled' and backtracked to say it was the information he received. And another version was that he was misled by media reporting,' Lim said after the defence had closed its case. SRC International is suing Najib and former CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil for wrongfully receiving company property, and dishonestly and wrongfully conspiring to convert company property for their own use. A judgment in default of appearance has been entered against Nik Faisal. The suit originally included former chairman Ismee Ismail, as well as former directors Suboh Yasin, Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, Azhar Osman Khairuddin and Che Abdullah @ Rashidi Che Omar, as co-defendants. SRC International later dropped the case against them. However, they were added as third parties by Najib. Lim also said Najib never informed his Cabinet about the RM42 million he allegedly received, and that he continued to helm decisions involving SRC International. 'It cannot be said that he was acting in the country's interest, or that his actions can be downplayed to mere recklessness,' he said. The hearing continues before Justice Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin on Tuesday, with Najib's lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, submitting in his defence, followed by lawyers appearing for the various third parties.
Focus Malaysia
6 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Judiciary is not a playground of partisan preferences
LATELY there have been statements from various groups on the government's decision not to extend former Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat's tenure following her retirement on July 1 this year. Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has criticised the government's decision not to extend Tengku Maimun's tenure, saying it signals a lack of consideration for the future of the country's legal system. For weeks prior to the chief justice's retirement, questions had arisen among legal practitioners , politicians over the lack of an extension for her and an announcement of a successor. DAP came out late with a statement saying the judiciary is of paramount importance, and reiterated its position that the extension of the tenures 'would be consistent with the reformist agenda of the Madani government'. It is obvious from these statements that Tengku Maimun has shown integrity and defense of judicial independence. The question is does the Malaysian public's trust in the judiciary have to be confined to individuals, or would it be better that judges, whoever they are, are able to safeguard the independence and integrity of the judiciary? Is it not the judiciary a guiding light to the objectivity of constitutional principles? What the public aspires for is not only judges with integrity but also able to collectively safeguard constitutional principles that makes it truly independent. If this is the case Tengku Maimun's retirement is not the issue to the people since whoever comes after will carry on the torch of justice through balance and enlighten interpretation of the constitution that protects the life and liberty of all Malaysians. Therefore the Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue (ACID) believes that it would be wise that judicial appointments should be separated from the preferences of the prime minister or politicians who have their own agendas. Judiciary is the carrier of holistic constitutional principles, it cannot be a playground of partisan preferences or ideological battles. ‒ July 7, 2025 Ronald Benjamin is the Secretary for the Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Bernama
