Chief judge of Malaya to serve as acting CJ – court registrar

Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim will serve as acting chief justice until the vacancy is filled, said the chief registrar of the Federal Court today.

Hasnah (above) will exercise the powers of the chief justice and her own post simultaneously for the time being.

“As per Article 131A of the Federal Constitution and Section 9 (1) (b) and Section 9 (3) of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964, the chief judge of Malaya would execute and carry out the duties of the chief justice (including her own functions) until the position is filled,” the registrar added in a statement today.

This comes after Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s tenure as chief justice ended on July 1, with Putrajaya not announcing her replacement.

Earlier, Tengku Maimun had said there was no problem if her tenure was not extended.

“What I can say is that I have served for six years, from May 2, 2019, to July 1, 2025… in good health, and I feel that in itself is a blessing.

“There are no regrets, as I have completed my term of service. The fact that I am not extended for another six months is not an issue. Absolutely not an issue.

"Six months is not that significant compared to six years,” she told Kosmo.

More retirements coming

Apart from Tengku Maimun, Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim also retired yesterday.

The coming months will see the retirement of other senior judicial figures, including Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli, and Federal Court judges Nallini Pathmanathan, Zabariah Yusof, and Hanipah Farikullah.

The tenures of Abdul Rahman, Zabariah, and Hanipah have already been extended by six months.

Earlier, several quarters urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to extend Tengku Maimun’s tenure, but he brushed it off, saying it was an attempt to politicise the judiciary.

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