Pm Should Recognise Cj S Contribution Extend Her Tenure Lawyer

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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should recognise outgoing Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat's contribution to the judiciary by extending her tenure, said a lawyer.
Syed Iskandar Syed Jaafar al-Mahdzar today reminded the government that since her appointment as CJ in 2019, she presided over multiple high-profile cases which cemented the judiciary's independence as an arbiter of justice.
The veteran lawyer pointed to her fair and just handling of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's appeal linked to the RM42 million SRC International abuse graft case, which resulted in him serving a jail term since August 2022.
Syed Iskandar also highlighted Tengku Maimun presiding over the Federal Court proceedings last year that resulted in the nullification of 16 Kelantan Syariah criminal laws for being unconstitutional, noting she had deliberated and delivered an equitable verdict in spite of external pressure from certain quarters linked to politics and religion.
"True to her usual self, she delivered her speech (during the Opening of Legal Year 2025) without fear or favour. After (Mohamed) Salleh Abas (the lord president of the Supreme Court dismissed during the 1988 Malaysian judicial crisis), she is the best that Malaysia has.
"It would be a great loss to the nation if we let her term expire without extension.
"In essence, an extremely firm and fair CJ is a rare commodity, thus the government via JAC (Judicial Appointment Commission), prime minister and YDPA (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) should consider extending her service and her whole team as well," Syed Iskandar told Malaysiakini.
CJ issues reminder to PM
During the event yesterday, Tengku Maimun remarked that then-opposition leader Anwar mounted an objection against the JAC Bill during Parliament sittings in 2008, adding that she has confidence that he would continue to uphold judicial independence as sitting premier.
The PKR president then claimed that the bill was insufficient to restore judicial independence, following the fallout from a judge appointment fixing scandal allegedly involving lawyer VK Lingam.
Based on the Dewan Rakyat Hansard for Dec 16 to 17, 2008, Anwar argued that there was a public perception that persons who decided in favour of the government were getting promoted.
Prime Minister Anwar IbrahimThe JAC Bill became law in 2009, with the commission empowered to select suitably qualified persons who merit appointment as superior court judges for the prime minister's consideration.
Tengku Maimun highlighted the importance of insulating judges from undue influence and political pressures to ensure verdicts are made fairly and based on legal principles.
She pointed out the need for re-evaluation of judicial appointments done via JAC, emphasising the critical need to reduce the executive's role in the matter.
Tengku Maimun said improvements to the judicial appointment mechanism are crucial to continue the recovery of the nation's judicial independence since the 1988 crisis. - Mkini

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