KINIGUIDE | Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat served her final day as Malaysia’s top judge today, before reaching mandatory retirement age, sparking debates about whether her time in office should be extended.

This has highlighted questions about how superior court judges are chosen in Malaysia and the prime minister’s role in the process.

Malaysiakini looks at the existing processes and what the implications are.

What does the Constitution say?

The general principle for the appointment of judges as per Article 122B of the Federal Constitution is that judges to superior courts - meaning the High, Appeals, and Federal courts - are made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on the advice of the prime minister.

The Constitution also provides that for the appointments of...