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.
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