The Malaysian Bar is standing firm on its position that the reappointments of both Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal President Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin are unconstitutional.

"The Bar maintains our position that there is no ambiguity in the provisions in the Federal Constitution, and that the appointments of the chief justice and the president of the Court of Appeal as additional judges, and thereafter to continue as chief justice and president of the Court of Appeal are unconstitutional and void," Malaysian Bar president George Varughese told Malaysiakini.

Varughese was responding to Raus, who had after his reappointment as chief justice last Saturday, conceded that his reappointment was unprecedented but maintained that it was still constitutional.

Raus had said that there is always a first time for everything and as such, there are bound to be many differences in opinions.

"The chief justice is entitled to his view that his appointment is constitutional.

"However, he has not explained why so, when there is no provision in the Federal Constitution to enable a chief justice to continue holding the position after the mandatory retirement age," Varughese said...