Zaid S Point Blank Poser To Pmx Did You Or Did You Not Submit Terrirudin S Name To Agong

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FORMER de-facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has seemingly wanted Prime Minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim to pick up enough courage to deny publicly that he did not submit the name of Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh as the Chief Justice (CJ) candidate to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Even if he denied that Terrirudin is a candidate for the vacant CJ post, Zaid reminded PMX that this does not absolve him “if you’ve been quietly advancing his candidacy in earlier months behind closed doors” or outside the Judicial Appointments Commission’s (JAC) recommendations.
“In today’s (July 15) report, you strenuously denied that you submitted the name of a controversial judge to the King. You didn’t even have the courage to mention his name publicly,” the opposition-slant UMNO member took a jibe at PMX on X.
“Let me ask you plainly: Are you referring to TS Ahmad Terrirudin, the former attorney-general (AG)?”
Dear PMX,
In today’s report you strenuously denied that you submitted the name of a controversial judge to the King. You didn’t even have the courage to mention his name publicly.
Let me ask you plainly:
Are you referring to Datuk Seri Ahmad Terrirudin, the former Attorney…
— Zaid Ibrahim (@zaidibrahim) July 15, 2025
For context, one MP who spoke to the New Straits Times on condition of anonymity has claimed that Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs who attended Monday’s (July 14) closed-door meeting with PMX were informed that Terrirudin’s name was not on the list (of candidates) to be submitted to the Agong.
The MP added those present were also informed that Terrirudin’s name was also not on the list for the Court of Appeal President or Chief Judge of Malaya posts.

On the same note, Zaid also queried PMX if it was true that Terrirudin met him months ago while he was still serving as AG with the ensuing meeting centred on discussions about his eventual elevation to CJ.
That’s what I heard the talk among lawyers. That probably explains his sudden promotion to the Federal Court despite having no prior experience as a judge.
You claim that Minister Azalina (Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said) can confirm you didn’t submit his (Terrirudin’s) name for this current Conference of Rulers (for approval). That may be technically accurate but that’s not the point.
What the public wants to know is this: Did you have a prior plan to place him in line for Chief Justice, thus bypassing the JAC’s procedure and process?
If what I’ve heard is true, then this is not mere gossip – it’s a serious breach of constitutional trust and a direct attack on judicial independence.
Your silence on these specifics only deepens public suspicion. I ask again: Are the rumours true? –   Focus Malaysia

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