KUALA LUMPUR – Many were hoping for the announcement of the new Chief Justice today. However, everyone will have to wait another day, as the announcement is expected to be made tomorrow.
The position of Chief Justice has been vacant since Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat retired on July 2 due to mandatory retirement. She was the first woman to hold this prestigious role.
Currently, the Chief Judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, is serving as the acting Chief Justice. There is also attention on the appointment of the President of the Court of Appeal, as Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim reached the mandatory retirement age of 66 on July 3.
Without today’s announcement, the appointment of the highest judicial position in the country remains uncertain.
Although the appointment was discussed during the 269th Meeting of the Conference of Rulers at Istana Negara today, no decisions were announced. The meeting, chaired by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor, will continue tomorrow.
According to Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, the meeting also covered the appointment of judges, including those for the Federal Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court, as well as the Chief Judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak and the Chief Justice.
The judiciary has drawn significant attention, especially following allegations regarding the unauthorised sharing of documents believed to be minutes from a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) meeting. This alleged leak is currently under police investigation.
Excerpts from the purported JAC meeting minutes, which are said to have occurred in May, reportedly originated from Reddit and subsequently went viral on Facebook and X.
The judiciary issue prompted the Bar Council to hold a march in Putrajaya on Monday, raising concerns about prolonged judicial vacancies, the need for continuity within the judicial institution, and demanding a more transparent and accountable judicial appointment process.
Speculation arose when Federal Court Judge Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, a former Attorney General, was rumoured to be a candidate to succeed Tengku Maimun. However, media reports citing a source from a Pakatan Harapan (PH) MP indicated that Terrirudin was not on the list of candidates to be presented to the Agong.
“We were informed that Terrirudin’s name is not on the list,” the source said after a recent meeting of PH Members of Parliament with the prime minister.
Earlier, Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, along with eight other PKR MPs, called for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) regarding the appointment of judges and allegations of judicial interference.
The group also requested a hearing by the Parliamentary Select Committee, as delays in appointing key judicial positions, including the Chief Justice, have led to concerns about a constitutional crisis. — July 16, 2025