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©The
Sun (Used by permission)
by Husna Yusop
PETALING JAYA (Dec 5, 2007): Court of Appeal president Datuk Abdul Hamid
Mohamad has been named Chief Justice (CJ), succeeding Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh
Abdul Halim who retired last month.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a statement issued today
the appointment took effect Nov 1, the same day he was appointed acting CJ.
Abdul Hamid, 65, a former Federal Court judge, was appointed Court of Appeal
president on Sept 5.
Another Federal Court judge Tan Sri Zaki Azmi has been appointed Court of Appeal
president, succeeding Abdul Hamid.
Azmi, 62, former Umno disciplinary board deputy chairman, was also made Federal
Court judge on Sept 5.
However, Zaki’s appointment will only take effect on a date to be determined
later.
According to the statement, the Federal Court is discussing with Istana Negara
on the date to hand over the letter of appointment to Abdul Hamid and Zaki.
The date of the oath-taking ceremony before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong also is
yet to be fixed.
Responding to the announcement, the Malaysian Bar expressed surprise over the
appointment of Zaki as the Court of Appeal president, the second highest office
holder in the judiciary.
This is given his very recent elevation to the Federal Court and that there were
other suitable candidates in terms of seniority and service in the judiciary,
Bar Council chairwoman Ambiga Sreenevasan said.
She also said there were the added concerns of his previous business interests
and involvement in Umno.
However, she said, the Bar trusted that these concerns will be dispelled by a
display of integrity and exemplary performance on the Bench by Zaki.
"Society must be left in no doubt that the judiciary is free from any
allegiances or alliances and that it is above reproach in all respects.
"The judiciary can ill-afford to regress to the past when there were perceptions
of unacceptable influences in the justice system," she said in a statement
today.
Ambiga said the Bar would like to congratulate Abdul Hamid on his appointment.
She added that the Bar was confident that the CJ, Court of Appeal president,
Chief Judge of Malaya and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, as heads of the
judiciary, will engage the Bar.
"We therefore look forward to a new era of cooperation with the judiciary to
strengthen the administration of justice," she said.
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