Newly-appointed Chief Justice Zaki Azmi has pledged to act against a &ldquo;small&rdquo; number of judges who have failed to perform their duties.


 <img align="left" alt="zaki azmi chief justice installation event 291008 03" height="298" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/148/b760e42636b8d3891885ae82cab37c1f.jpg" title="zaki azmi chief justice installation event 291008 03" width="220"/>
 &ldquo;I will not hesitate to take stern and drastic action against this small group if the situation warrants me to,&rdquo; Zaki said today in his maiden speech as the country&rsquo;s top judge.


 He noted that errant judges have tarnished the image of the judiciary and that this has to be resolved before the situation worsens.


 &ldquo;If there are cases of
 
 ampu-mengampu
 
 (currying favour), I say &lsquo;stop it&rsquo;,&rdquo; he said, without elaborating.


 While complimenting judicial staff for improvements in the Court of Appeal, he pointed out that it is possible to make changes if everyone works together.


 &ldquo;I acknowledge that I have been rather rough and direct, but together we have managed to do it,&rdquo; he said, also calling for more efficiency in the delivery of justice.


 Zaki was addressing some 50 people - mainly fellow-judges - who attended a swearing-in ceremony at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.


 <img align="right" alt="zaki azmi palace of justice 291008 oath ceremony" height="210" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/148/cde11cea2cf14bd9de90ae5548a79ade.jpg" title="zaki azmi palace of justice 291008 oath ceremony" width="300"/>
 Judges Alauddin Mohd Sherif and Arifin Zakaria took their oath as Court of Appeal president and Chief Justice of Malaya respectively.


 Zaki reminded the judges that they are public servants and that those who are unable to serve at their very best should leave the judiciary to pursue their interests.


 &ldquo;Not matter how important our personal interest, we must remember that public interest is far more important,&rdquo; he said.


 
 
 &lsquo;Hard-hitting speech&rsquo;
 
 


 Speaking to reporters later, Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan - who attended the ceremony - said Zaki had delivered a &ldquo;hard-hitting&rdquo; speech.


 <img align="left" alt="ambiga sreenevasan" height="64" src="https://i.malaysiakini.com/83/2e70ce887db682da3c4605924a8dc481.jpg" title="ambiga sreenevasan" width="64"/>
 &ldquo;I think it was a no-nonsense and tough speech... He is off to a good start with that speech,&rdquo; she said.


 During his 18-minute speech, Zaki made no mention of
 
 <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/91667" target="_blank">
 criticism
 </a>
 
 of his past relationships with Umno and the corporate world.


 Zaki, 63, was
 
 <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/91715" target="_blank">
 promoted
 </a>
 
 to chief justice after having served 10 months as Court of Appeal president since Dec 11 last year.


 He was appointed No 2 in the judiciary after serving just three months as a Federal Court judge.


 He was the first Federal Court judge whose appointment bypassed the convention of prior service in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.


 
 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.tv/video/16384" target="_blank">
 Watch 1-min video here
 </a>

<img align="left" alt="zaki azmi 291008" height="64" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/148/5c64e1b643cd570cc076949feb003d45.jpg" title="zaki azmi 291008" width="64"/>
The newly-appointed Chief Justice Zaki Azmi&rsquo;s maiden speech was trained on the 'small number' of errant judges who have tarnished the image of the judiciary.

 
 [VIDEO INSIDE]

New CJ vows action against errant judges

~RM12

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