Ahmad Terrirudin Appointed To Judicial Appointments Committee

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His appointment marks a departure from the longstanding practice of assigning that slot to a senior apex court judge.
Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh, a former attorney-general, was elevated to the Federal Court in November last year.PUTRAJAYA: Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh, who was elevated to the Federal Court in November last year, has been appointed to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), replacing Zabariah Yusof who retired last month
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made the appointment pursuant to Section 5(1)(e) of the JAC Act 2009.
The provision states that the appointment of a fifth Federal Court judge is the sole prerogative of the prime minister.
Checks showed that the JAC website now lists Terrirudin as one of the commission’s nine members. A government gazette notification, sighted by FMT, said his two-year appointment took effect from Nov 15.
Terrirudin, 57, was attorney-general prior to his elevation to the apex court a year ago.
His appointment marks a departure from the longstanding practice of assigning that slot to a senior apex court judge.
Questions had previously swirled over who would be appointed to the position.
The top contender, based on seniority, was Justice Rhodzariah Bujang, who was elevated to the apex court in March 2020.
Under the Act, the top four judges in the judiciary are automatic members of the JAC by virtue of their position.
The JAC presently seats Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, Court of Appeal president Abu Bakar Jais and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Azizah Nawawi.
The position of Chief Judge of Malaya has been vacant since the retirement of Hasnah Hashim last week.
Last year, the prime minister appointed four eminent persons to the JAC for a two-year term beginning Nov 1: former attorney-general Idrus Harun, former Federal Court judge Zainun Ali, former Sarawak attorney-general Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid, and Universiti Teknologi Mara law lecturer Hartini Saripan.
The JAC nominates the names of candidates for elevation and promotion to the prime minister as required under the JAC Act, which came into force in 2009.
The king then appoints judges on the advice of the prime minister after consulting the Conference of Rulers, as stated under Article 122B (1) of the Federal Constitution. - FMT

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