Appointment of Malaysia's new chief justice eases controversy — for now

Only way to restore trust in judiciary is to remove PM from selection process: Experts

- Hazlin Hassan

Malaysia has appointed former deputy minister-turned-judge Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as its new chief justice, a move analysts say could help quell public concerns about political interference in the country's judiciary.

The announcement, made in a statement issued by the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court, said the King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, had approved the appointment on the advice of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and after consulting with the Conference of Rulers.

The appointment of Justice Wan Ahmad Farid, confirming an earlier report in The Straits Times, comes amid an unprecedented leadership vacuum in the nation's judiciary that stirred concerns over the state of the courts and its independence.

Analysts say that while the confirmation, which came in the wee hours of July 18, will ease controversy that has been brewing over the post, meaningful reform to restore confidence in the judiciary can be achieved only if the prime minister is no longer part of the selection process for the top Bench.

Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid, 62, is filling one of several top spots left vacant for weeks in the nation's highest court following the retirement of several senior judges. Federal Court judge Abu Bakar Jais, 63, was also named as president of the Court of Appeal, while Court of Appeals judge Azizah Nawawi, 63, was promoted to chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, according to the statement.

Prior to the announcement, 31 judicial positions across various courts remained vacant.

Their official swearing-in and presentation of the appointment letters will take place on July 28 at Istana Negara, before the King.

The announcement of a new chief justice follows weeks of controversy and heightened scrutiny over the delay in naming a successor to former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who retired on July 2.