Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria said the Judicial Appointments Commission had been informed of his possible successor after he retires.

He said that they have already identified the person and it was a matter of time when the announcement would be made.

“I cannot inform you as it would be a breach of secrecy. But a proposal has been made to JAC on the necessary position,” Arifin told reporters after officiating the 2017 Legal Year event in Putrajaya today.

Justice Ariffin was asked on the succession plan following a report that the top three judicial officers, including the CJ, were given a six-month extension four months ago.

Judges have a mandatory retirement age at 66 but their terms can be extended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Justice Arifin turned 66 on Oct 1 last year and with the six-month extension, his last day would be March 30, 2017.

Besides Justice Arifin, his number two, Court of Appeal president Justice Md Raus Sharif, would turn 66 next month and Chief Judge of Malaya Justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin would also reach that age on March 28.

Both Justice Md Raus and Justice Zulkefli were also given six-month extensions.

The JAC was formed in 2009 under the JAC Act, and it oversees the appointment of judges to the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.