PERMATANG PAUH – Eight newly appointed Court of Appeal judges and 14 High Court judges are scheduled to be sworn in on July 28, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today.
He said the appointments had gone through all the required procedures, including evaluation by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), consultation with the Malay Rulers and final consent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Bernama reported.
“Many have asked me why it was not announced earlier. I cannot answer arbitrarily because the process of appointing judges involves the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“It needs to go through discussions with the Rulers and after it is agreed, it will then be brought back to the Agong for consent,” he said during the launch of the Bumiputera Master Plan, Tunas Madani and JKP Sdn Bhd Housing Project (JKPSB) here today.
Anwar emphasised that no judges were removed or dismissed, contrary to what some quarters have suggested. Instead, he stressed that the selection process was conducted with great care and in full respect of the Constitutional Monarchy system.
The event, organised by the Penang Bumiputera Development Council (MPBPP), saw the launch of three key initiatives aimed at supporting the state’s Bumiputera community – the Penang Bumiputera Development Master Plan (PIPBPP) 2026–2035, the Tunas MADANI Programme, and the JKPSB Housing Project.
The PIPBPP 2026–2035 will serve as a strategic 10-year roadmap to drive inclusive, continuous and sustainable development of the Bumiputera community in Penang, guided by the principles of the Rukun Madani.
The plan was developed with input from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), who acted as consultants and researchers alongside MPBPP.
Meanwhile, the Tunas Madani Programme aims to equip Bumiputera graduates with the skills to move from being job seekers to entrepreneurs, through a comprehensive module covering training, mentoring, financing, and market access.
MPBPP chairman Tan Sri Khalid Ramli said the first phase of Tunas Madani, in collaboration with UiTM Penang, will target at least 100 graduates, with the goal of having 80% establish active businesses within 12 months.
As for the JKPSB housing initiative, Khalid said it will involve the construction of three residential projects comprising 3,231 housing units in Permatang Pauh, with a total development cost of RM1 billion.
He said the aim is to provide affordable homes for the Bumiputera community in Penang, complete with essential facilities and a conducive living environment. – July 19, 2025