CHIEF Justice, Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and the President of the Court of Appeal, Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, should be given a six-month extension of service, just like the other four Federal Court judges before them, said former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.
The Pandan Member of Parliament said this is to ensure the smooth administration and independence of the country's judicial institutions.
“Many lawyers have contacted me to express their concerns that this vacancy will have a major impact on the smooth running of court proceedings.
“They are also concerned about the possibility of political manipulation in filling important positions, thus affecting the independence of the country's judicial institution.
"It is not a matter of politics or trying to politicise the appointment of judges. This is a matter of ensuring that the justice system runs smoothly, is free and has the trust of the people," he said in a statement today.
Tengku Maimun is expected to retire on July 1, followed by Abang Iskandar on July 2, while five other senior judges are scheduled to retire within six months after that, including the Chief Justice of Malaya, Tan Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim; the Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli; and Federal Court Judges, Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof and Datuk Hanipah Farikullah.
Four of the judges involved were previously given a six-month extension of service.
Rafizi said that failure to grant an extension would only worsen the public perception of the government's transparency in matters of judicial independence, especially when the government is facing allegations of double standards in several important appointments.
“This controversy will worsen if the government does not address the concerns of legal practitioners properly.
“Furthermore, history has taught us that executive interference in the judicial institution ultimately backfires and destroys the people’s confidence in the country’s legal system.
“I still remember how the dismissal of Tun Salleh Abas in 1988 was the starting point of my political awareness. At that time, I was only 11 years old. That event opened my eyes to the importance of defending the independence of the judiciary which is the foundation of the democratic system,” he said.
He said that Keadilan and Pakatan Harapan (PH) themselves were built on the struggle to defend the independence of the judicial institution and reform the country’s institutions.
“It would be very unfortunate if one day, Keadilan and PH were accused of weakening judicial independence, thus sparking the anger of the younger generation who would rise up against the government,” he stressed.
Therefore, Rafizi urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take the concerns raised seriously and ensure that the government handles this issue transparently and prudently to maintain the people's confidence in the country's judicial institutions.
"As a member of the previous administration, I always brought this voice to the discussion table. But as a current Member of Parliament, I am called upon to speak out openly so that the government does not take the concerns of the people and legal practitioners lightly.
"We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past which ultimately led to a major crisis in the judicial system, because history has proven that it not only undermines the people's trust but also damages the country's administration," he said. - June 30, 2025
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