Appointment of judges boost for women empowerment

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5  -- Five women judges were elevated to top positions in the Judiciary today in what is seen as a boost for women empowerment in the country.

Heading the list is Federal Court Judge Datuk Rohana Yusuf who was elevated as the country’s new President of the Court of Appeals.

Three Court of Appeals judges, namely Datuk Zaleha Yusof, Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof and Datuk Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, were promoted as Federal Court judges.

High Court Judge Datuk Hadhariah Syed Ismail was elevated as a Court of Appeals judge.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, presented to these judges their instruments of appointment at Istana Negara.

The King also handed over instruments of appointment to four other judges.

High Court judges Datuk Abu Bakar Jais and Nantha Balan a/l E.S. Moorthy were promoted as Court of Appeal judges while judicial commissioners Datuk Seri Tun Abd Majid Tun Hamzah and Datuk Azmi Abdullah were elevated as High Court judges.

Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said in a statement that Al-Sultan Abdullah expressed his pride over the appointment of the women judges.

He said the King felt that this reflected the national administration’s effort to have more women in the Judiciary.

The appointment of the women judges is also seen as a nod for the Pakatan Harapan election pledge to create more women leaders in the country.

Chief Justice Tan Sri Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ismail Bakar were also present at the ceremony. 

-- BERNAMA