Ramkarpal joins chorus backing tenure extension for Tengku Maimun, two senior judges

THE government has been urged to announce if the tenure of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat – along with Court of Appeal President Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and senior Federal Court Judge Nallini Pathmanathan – will be extended a further six months.

“The matter is undoubtedly of public interest,” said Member of Parliament for Bukit Gelugor and Chairman of the DAP National Legal Bureau, Ramkarpal Singh.

While acknowledging that such extensions are not automatic, Ramkarpal noted, “There appears to be no compelling reason not to extend their tenures.”

He emphasised that the administration has frequently highlighted institutional reform as a top priority, and the non-extension of the terms of the judiciary’s top judges “does not appear consistent with such an agenda”, particularly amid a spate of Federal Court retirements.

“In the circumstances, it is imperative to allow for a continuation of the status quo of the current administration of the Judiciary in order to ensure a smooth transition when the new batch of Federal Court judges takes over,” he said in a statement today.

Ramkarpal reminded that the Federal Constitution provides for the extension of tenures of Federal Court judges.

“Such provision must have been intended, among other things, to facilitate the administration of justice, which is precisely what needs to be done now,” he said, adding that the judiciary faces looming vacancies following the retirement of several of its members.

He stressed that the issue at hand was not the extension of a single judge, but three – including the two highest-ranking members of Malaysia’s judicial hierarchy.

“The said three judges have performed their duties well and have preserved, protected and defended the Federal Constitution in accordance with their oaths of office,” he said. “There is certainly merit in extending their tenures for a further six months.”

Ramkarpal urged the government to give the matter serious consideration, stating that doing so “would certainly enhance the perception of its commitment to reform”. - June 29, 2025