Embattled Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, who is due for retirement at end of this month, is expected to get a short extension to continue his service.

Malaysiakini learnt that Ahmad Fairuz will get an extension between two and three months.

The timing of the extension is questionable as the head of the judiciary has come under tremendous public pressure since the revelation of the infamous ' Lingam tape ' on Sept 18.

It has been reported that Ahmad Fairuz had put in an application for a six-month extension to the king but has not received an official reply as yet.

Article 125 of the Federal Constitution states that a federal court judge shall hold office until he attains the age of 66 and a further six months "as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may approve".

The Conference of Rulers, which endorses the appointment and promotion of judges, will meet for two days from Oct 31, which also happens to be the last day for Ahmad Fairuz in office.

Chief Justice since 2003, Ahmad Fairuz will turn 66 on Nov 1.

One of the most senior and influential sultans, Perak's Azlan Shah - a former lord president in the 1980s - is said to be "concerned" over the extension given to Ahmad Fairuz.

The chief justice's office, when contacted this morning, said they have no knowledge over the extension.

Ahmad Fairuz could not be contacted as he is still on leave. He is not expected to be back until next week.

'Post should be filled soon'

De facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, in an interview with Malaysiakini last week, denied speculations that Ahmad Fairuz would be granted an extension.

He however called for the top post in the judiciary to be filled as soon as possible, in the event it was vacated by end of the month.

"Any vacancy should not be left too long, it has to be filled up because there are so much work," said Nazri, who is the minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

Ahmad Fairuz's implication in the Lingam tape also resulted in the powerful Bar Council urging him to withdraw his application for the extension.

A poll currently being conducted on the Malaysian Bar website showed that 95.57 percent of the voters agreed that Ahmad Fairuz's term should not be extended. A mere 2.85 percent voted in favour for such an extension while 1.85 percent returned 'not sure'.

At press time, some 316 people had taken part in the poll which was put up yesterday.

By convention, the judiciary's No 2, the Court of Appeal president will be elevated to the chief justice's post upon a vacancy. The post is currently held by 65-year-old Abdul Hamid Mohamed, who took over the post in early September.

A four-decade legal career

Kedah-born Ahmad Fairuz joined the judicial and legal service four decades ago, starting as a cadet legal officer. He has held various posts until he climbed up to be the chief justice.

He came under public scrutiny lately when opposition party PKR revealed an eight-minute video clip recorded in 2002 which showed senior lawyer VK Lingam in a telephone conversation purportedly with Ahmad Fairuz on appointing 'friendly' judges.

Ahmad Fairuz was the Chief Judge of Malaya at the time, the No 3 in the judiciary.

Although Ahmad Fairuz has not commented on the matter, de facto law minister Nazri had said that the CJ had denied being involved in the phone conversation to him.

The clip has prompted an outrage within the legal fraternity and among the public.

A 2,000-strong crowd of lawyers held an unprecedented 3.5km march to ask the government to form a royal commission of inquiry to investigate the issues raised in the clip thoroughly.

Responding, the government however only set up a three-man panel - which is not empowered to compel any witnesses to come forward - to investigate the authenticity of the clip.

SPECIAL REPORT: The Lingam tape