By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 6: Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim is most likely to become the next chief justice as incumbent Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat is set to retire in June, according to a source.
According to Free Malaysia Today (FMT), if appointed, Abang Iskandar will become the first Sarawakian to head the judiciary.
The chief justice is the head of the Federal Court, the apex court of Malaysia. It is the highest position in the Malaysian judicial system, followed by the president of the Court of Appeal, the chief judge of Malaya, and the chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak.
“The appointment appears to be strategic as there is currently no other Sarawakian who is likely to come close to being made top judge in the near future,” the source told FMT.
Although Abang Iskandar, who is from Sibu, will reach the mandatory retirement age for judges on July 1, he is expected to receive a six-month extension from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Article 125 of the Federal Constitution states that superior court judges shall hold office until age 66, but the king can extend their tenure for up to six months.
Sabahan Richard Malanjum was the first East Malaysian to be appointed chief justice, but he only held the office for eight months between July 11, 2018, and April 12, 2019.
Under the law, the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is required to send a list of candidates for the top post to the prime minister, who will, in accordance with Article 122B of the constitution, tender his advice to the king.
The article also requires the king to act on the prime minister’s advice after consultation with the Conference of Rulers. However, the constitution does not require the prime minister to consult the sitting chief justice on the appointment of her successor.
Meanwhile, the source also said newly installed Federal Court judge Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh is set to replace Abang Iskandar as Court of Appeal president. Terrirudin, who will turn 57 on April 12, was appointed in November and is currently the most junior of the 10 apex court judges.
The Conference of Rulers will meet in the middle of the year, and the appointment of judges is expected to be brought to their attention then. — DayakDaily
