Chief Justice Raus and Court of Appeal president Zulkefli resign

Zulkefli (left) with Md Raus.

PETALING JAYA: Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, whose positions were deemed "unconstitutional" by several groups, have sent in their letters of resignation and will vacate their positions on July 31.

In a statement by the Federal Court chief registrar's office on Wednesday (June 13), it was said that Raus and Zulkefli had met with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on May 15 to convey their intent to resign.

"However, the two judges informed the Prime Minister that the resignation will only take effect on a later date to enable them to resolve all pending judicial affairs," said the statement.

Raus and Zulkefli sent in their resignation letter to His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on June 7, and the resignation will take effect on July 31.

The resignation was approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on June 8 and the private secretary to Istana Negara was notified by letter on June 11.

The re-appointments of Raus and Zulkefli to their respective posts were controversial, as their terms were extended after they reached the mandatory retirement age of 66 years and six months.

In 2017, Pakatan Harapan submitted a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong seeking his intervention to stop Raus and Zulkefli's unconstitutional re-appointments.

The extensions were also challenged in court by The Malaysian Bar, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).