The Bar Council today lauded new chief justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim's pledge to weed out corruption in the judiciary in order to restore public confidence in the institution.

In a press statement, Bar Council chairperson Mah Weng Kwai said the chief justice's investigative approach to public complaints o­n judicial administration is "most timely and welcomed".

He added that Ahmad Fairuz's proposal to remove corrupt judges from office was "an essential step in the right direction".

"The Bar Council is encouraged with the determination of the new chief justice to create a transparent an efficient judicial system with good relationships with the government, Attorney-General's Chambers and the Bar Council," he said.

Ahmad Fairuz was officially appointed o­n Monday replacing Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah who retired last Saturday after serving two-and-a-half years as the top judge.

The new chief justice, who has seen a rapid career ascent, now looks forward to at least three years at the helm.

Mah said the Bar Council, representing about 10,000 lawyers, now rests its hopes o­n the new chief justice to lay the "right foundations" to restore public confidence in the judiciary.

"In this, the chief justice can be assured of the Bar Council's cooperation and support. In the past, the Bar has been regularly referring matters of concern, including complaints, to the office of the chief justice and the chief judge of Malaya.

"Such Bench and Bar discussions have proved to be helpful and the Council hopes they will continue for the betterment of the administration of justice in this country," he said.

More judges

Meanwhile, Mah also urged Ahmad Fairuz to expedite the appointment of new judges to the High Court to avoid the creation of new backlog of cases.

"While the vacancies resulting from the elevation of seven High Court judges to the Court of Appeal last year still remain, the Bar Council takes this opportunity to urge the new chief justice to prioritise the matter of judicial appointments...particularly in the Shah Alam and Kuala Lumpur courts," he said.

Mah also offered the Bar Council's cooperation and support should the judiciary require consultation o­n this matter.

In addition to the vacancies at the High Court, several spots at the Federal Court are still waiting for new appointments.

Anwar appeals

Almost immediately upon his appointment, the new chief justice is set to face the challenges posed by the appeals concerning jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim starting March 24.

On Monday, Ahmad Fairuz approved a request by the AG's Chambers to postpone Anwar's application for a Federal Court review of his conviction and sentence for corruption to a yet undetermined date.

Anwar's appeal against his sodomy conviction is also scheduled to be heard o­n March 24.

The former deputy prime minister is currently serving a 15-year jail sentence at the Sungai Buloh prison, nine years for sodomy and six for corruption.