The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, based on the advice of the Prime Minister, has approved the appointment of Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah as the next Chief Justice of Malaysia.

The national news agency Bernama reported that the Prime Minister's Department had announced in a press statement today that the appointment was made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, upon consulting the Conference of Rulers.

The three-paragraph statement stated that Dzaiddin's appointment was governed by Article 122B (1) of the Federal Constitution.

Dzaiddin is scheduled to collect his surat watikah (royal letter of appointment) from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the morning of Dec 20, which will officially make him the next Chief Justice. [[#1]No official gov't letter yet for new CJ[/#], Dec 6]

He takes over from Eusoff Chin, whose term expires on Dec 19.

With today's announcement by the PM's Department, Dzaiddin's status as the new Chief Justice is no longer in doubt.

Until yesterday, various quarters were uncertain over the status of his appointment following Mahathir's remark on Tuesday that he had not received any news on the appointment of the Chief Justice.

Former reporter

Asked on confirmation of Dzaiddin's appointment at a press conference after a function in Shah Alam, Mahathir had said, "I don't know. I haven't received any news yet." [[#2]Mahathir evasive on status of new Chief Justice[/#], Dec 5].

In a departure from convention, the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal announced in a press statement on Nov 9 that the 187th Conference of Rulers had approved Dzaiddin's appointment as the new Chief Justice.

Normally, such appointments would be made by the Yang di Pertuan Agong upon advice by the prime minister. The appointment would then be announced by the government.

Dzaiddin 63, was born in Arau, Perlis on Sept 16, 1937.

He received his early education at a Malay school in Arau and later attended the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Star.

He was called to the English Bar on July 19, 1966, and the Malaysian Bar on Jan 28, 1967.

A former Malay Mail reporter, Dzaiddin was appointed a High Court judge on Oct 1, 1982, and a Federal Court judge on Dec 18, 1992.