Agong presents instrument of appointment as CJ to Wan Ahmad Farid

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar presented the instrument of appointment as chief justice to Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh at Istana Negara today.

Wan Ahmad Farid, 62, also took the oath of office and loyalty during the ceremony, which was held at the Small Throne Room of the palace.

Wan Ahmad Farid, hitherto a Court of Appeal judge, was also presented with the instrument of appointment as a Federal Court judge.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Ministers Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Fadillah Yusof, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said also attended the ceremony.

His Majesty also presented instruments of appointment to Abu Bakar Jais as the president of the Court of Appeal and Azizah Nawawi as the chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, followed by the appointment of eight Court of Appeal judges and 14 High Court judges.

Wan Ahmad Farid has been appointed as the 17th chief justice, succeeding Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who retired on July 2.

The appointment was made in line with Clause (1) of Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, with His Majesty’s consent on the advice of the prime minister and after consultation with the Conference of Rulers.

Abu Bakar, 63, is filling the vacancy of president of the Court of Appeal following the retirement of Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim on July 3, while Azizah, 63, replaces Abdul Rahman Sebli, who retired on July 24.

New CJ’s background

Wan Ahmad Farid, who holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) from the University of West London and obtained a Certificate in Legal Practice (Hons) from Universiti Malaya in 1986, began his legal career as an advocate and solicitor with Messrs Adnan & Wee in Kuala Terengganu, serving from 1987 to 2003.

Beyond his legal career, Wan Ahmad Farid has been active in public administration and politics, having served as political secretary to former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from 2003 to 2008, before being appointed deputy home minister from 2008 to 2009.

He returned to legal practice between 2011 and 2015 as a partner at Messrs Wan Farid & Surin in Kuala Lumpur before being appointed as a judicial commissioner, serving in the High Courts of Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur and Kota Bharu from 2015 to 2019.

He was then elevated to High Court judge from 2019 to 2024, with postings in Kota Bharu, Shah Alam (Special Powers Division) and Kuala Lumpur (Special Powers Division 3).

- Bernama

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Wan Ahmad Farid appointed chief justice, oath taking ceremony on July 28