Advises against premature discussions on judicial appointments, advisor Selangor sultan emphasizes
In the midst of recent retirements of senior judges, the Malaysian government is gearing up to make crucial appointments to fill the vacant positions of the Chief Justice, Court of Appeal President, Chief Judge of Malaya, and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak.
The current acting Chief Justice, Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, is a strong contender for the top judicial role, given her seniority and temporary incumbency since July 2, 2025. However, Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, a former Attorney General, has been definitively ruled out as a candidate for any superior court judge role following controversy and internal decisions by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) and government officials.
For the Court of Appeal President position, Zabariah Mohd Yusof is likely to be appointed, according to public suggestions and the support of lawyers. Although no official announcement has been made yet, Zabariah Yusof is currently serving as the acting Court of Appeal president.
The race for the Chief Judge of Malaya position is between Federal Court judge Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera and other candidates, with Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera remaining a strong candidate following the clarification that Terrirudin is not on the shortlist.
The retirement of Abdul Rahman Sebli, the current Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, has created another vacancy in the superior courts. No definitive public nominations for his successor have been reported, but judicial leadership reshuffles are expected soon.
The appointments will be finalized and announced by the Malaysia royal rulers (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) after consultations and voting within the JAC and the government. The sultan's emphasis on transparency and careful execution of the appointment process remains relevant in the current context, as judicial transparency and appointment processes have been under public scrutiny lately due to leaked documents and political debate.
The 269th Conference of Rulers meeting is currently taking place, with the main agenda being the negotiation of appointments for the new chief justice, Court of Appeal president, chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, and other superior court judges. The government is facing criticism due to delays in the appointment of senior judges, and the sultan supports Istana Negara's statement reiterating the constitutional provision for the king to make these appointments on the advice of the prime minister and after consulting the rulers.
The sultan also urges all parties to refrain from speculating and making negative accusations without first obtaining the complete and legitimate facts of a matter. As the process unfolds, the Malaysian public awaits the announcement of the new judicial leadership with anticipation.
- The Malaysian government is considering various government policies and legislation regarding the appointments of new judges, including the role of the Prime Minister in the process.
- The Malaysian public has been debating politics and general news recently, focusing on the appointment of a new Chief Justice, Court of Appeal President, and Chief Judges of Sabah and Sarawak, amidst leaked documents and controversies surrounding potential candidates.
- Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, despite his previous position as Attorney General, has been excluded from further superior court judge roles following internal decisions by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) and government officials amidst controversy.
- In the race for the Chief Judge of Malaya position, Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera remains a strong contender, following clarification that Terrirudin is not on the shortlist for any superior court judge role.
- The appointments for these judicial roles will be subject to the consultation and voting within the JAC and the government, and the final announcements will be made by the Malaysia royal rulers, with the importance of transparency and careful execution highly emphasized in the current context.
