Chief Justice Candidate Submitted Earlier, Receives King's Consent - PM Anwar

PUTRAJAYA, July 21 (Bernama) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that the name of the Chief Justice announced recently was submitted and approved by the King in advance, and was not changed at the last minute as claimed by some quarters.

Anwar described the claim as a baseless accusation that deliberately seeks to politicise the issue to the point of causing confusion among the people regarding the country's judicial system.

“For a week we (the government) were slammed, apparently the Prime Minister did not respond. How could I possibly answer at that time because the process (of appointing judges) was still ongoing.

“The proposed appointment of the Chief Justice must go through the provisions of Article 122B of the Federal Constitution which requires a recommendation from the Prime Minister to be approved by the King, after consultation with the Conference of Rulers,” he said at the Prime Minister’s Meeting with the Prime Minister’s Department staff here today.

Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, as well as the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

Explaining further, Anwar said the names of the candidates for the Chief Justice and other appointments such as judges of the Court of Appeal and High Court had been submitted earlier, but the process could only be finalised after the Conference of Rulers convened on July 15 and 16.

“The names of the candidates had been submitted earlier, before the country was in a commotion. We were just waiting for the Conference of Rulers to meet on July 15 and 16. Everything is following the process. "No one can precede the negotiations of the Conference of Rulers and the consent of His Majesty," he said.

Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh was appointed as the 17th Chief Justice and would be sworn in on July 28.

The Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court in a statement on July 17 announced that the appointment was made based on Clause (1) of Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, after obtaining the consent of the King on the advice of the Prime Minister and after consulting with the Conference of Rulers.

Meanwhile, Federal Court Judge Datuk Abu Bakar Jais was appointed as the President of the Court of Appeal while Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Azizah Nawawi was appointed to replace the retiring Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak.

Wan Ahmad Farid, 62, was appointed as the 17th Chief Justice, to replace Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat who retired on July 2.

Abu Bakar, 63, is filling the vacancy of President of the Court of Appeal following the retirement of Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim on July 3, while Azizah, 63, will replace Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli who will retire on July 25.

Meanwhile, Anwar also reminded civil servants to understand the judicial appointment process and not be easily influenced by political allegations.

"I ask civil servants to understand (this process). Don't be hasty, don't judge first. Because the appointment of the chief justice has a method, a procedure. Alhamdulillah, the process was completed well," he said.

-- BERNAMA