Federal Court Justice Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi appointed as head of the judiciary.
The new Chief Justice will be Federal Court Justice Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi. According to sources, the Conference of Rulers, which met this week, had agreed to Zaki’s appointment as head of the judiciary.Malaysia's nine hereditary rulers consented to Mr Zaki's appointment yesterday. Current Chief Justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamed, who was given a six-month extension in April, retires on Saturday.
Sources said that Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff would move up the judicial ladder to the number two position of Court of Appeal President, replacing Zaki. It is understood that Federal Court Justice Arifin Zakaria would be elevated to Chief Judge of Malaya, the third highest position, but it could not be confirmed. Arifin is currently the most senior of the remaining Federal Court judges (See list at www.kehakiman.gov.my).
Under Article 122B (1) of the Federal Constitution, the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Judges “shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, after consulting the Conference of Rulers”.
Sources said that Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff would move up the judicial ladder to the number two position of Court of Appeal President, replacing Zaki. It is understood that Federal Court Justice Arifin Zakaria would be elevated to Chief Judge of Malaya, the third highest position, but it could not be confirmed. Arifin is currently the most senior of the remaining Federal Court judges (See list at www.kehakiman.gov.my).
Under Article 122B (1) of the Federal Constitution, the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Judges “shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, after consulting the Conference of Rulers”.
Zaki, 63, who is currently President of the Court of Appeal, made history on Sept 5 last year when he was appointed directly to the Federal Court from the legal profession. He was appointed a judge in the country's apex court without going through the lower rungs. He rose to the No.2 position two months later. His fast rise through the judicial system had sparked protests from the opposition, which raised the matter in Parliament last year. At that time, then-parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang had described it as a prelude to Mr Zaki becoming 'Umno's chief justice'.
However, since then, lawyers and judges have conceded that Mr Zaki has taken pains to avoid hearing cases linked to the government, and has become known for good judicial temperament.
However, since then, lawyers and judges have conceded that Mr Zaki has taken pains to avoid hearing cases linked to the government, and has become known for good judicial temperament.
Zaki served, among others, as the Abandoned Housing Project Scheme and National Sports Council adviser during his private practice. He also served in Umno as disciplinary (technical) committee chairman, selection committee secretary, and was a member of the party’s disciplinary board appeal panel. Before his appointment to the Federal Court last year, Zaki had resigned from all his corporate directorships and memberships but his former connection to Umno has been raised numerous times by some groups who worry about his impartiality. A petition was submitted to the King on Sept 15 requesting Zaki not be elevated as Chief Justice.
Mr Zaki obtained his Barrister-at-Law from Lincoln's Inn and was called to the Bar in England in 1969. He served in the Malaysian government before going into private practice in 1985.
He was also a senior consultant for Kuala Lumpur-based law firm Shahrizat Rashid & Lee.
He was also a senior consultant for Kuala Lumpur-based law firm Shahrizat Rashid & Lee.
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