Two senior judges elevated to Federal Court

Two senior judges who entered the judiciary 14 years ago have been elevated to the Federal Court.

Court of Appeal judges Hanipah Farikullah and Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera are now part of the apex court bench, following their oath-taking during an elevation ceremony chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat at the Palace of Justice this afternoon.

Earlier this morning, the duo received their appointment letters from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim at Istana Negara.

Born in Besut, Terengganu on May 23, 1959, Hanipah was appointed judicial commissioner in May 2018, became High Court judge in January 2013, and rose to the Court of Appeal bench in April 2018.

Among the high-profile cases she has presided over was when she was High Court judge in 2016 and dismissed Sisters in Islam’s judicial review targeting a Selangor fatwa that labelled the group as deviant. The women empowerment group’s appeal is pending before the Federal Court.

Born on Jan 3, 1962, Vazeer’s judicial journey saw him being appointed judicial commissioner in May 2010, High Court judge in February 2015, and Court of Appeal judge in August 2019.

Among the high-profile cases that Vazeer has presided over was the Shah Alam High Court lawsuit involving murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, whereby he ordered the government and three others to pay RM5 million compensation to the deceased’s family over her 2006 killing by two former police officers.

During the elevation ceremony, three judicial commissioners - Alexander Siew, Su Tiang Joo and Amelati Parnell - were confirmed as High Court judges as well.

Siew and Su were selected as judicial commissioners in July 2020, and Amelati was appointed in April 2021.

Su took his oath of office before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Akhtar Tahir, while Siew and Amelati took their oaths of office before Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli.

Also present at the ceremony was Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, who is acting as the Chief Judge of Malaya.

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