PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (July 2) had discussed the issue of the appointment of the new chief justice following the retirement of Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat yesterday (July 1).
Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the Madani government spokesperson, said the issue was brought up during the Cabinet meeting that was led by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, although the discussion was “not in-depth”.
"We did discuss the appointment of the chief justice, but it was not an in-depth discussion. The meeting mainly focused on what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had mentioned about the issue during the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister's Department two days ago," said Fahmi at the media briefing here after the Cabinet meeting this morning.
Anwar had then stated that extension of the service of civil servants, including top judges, is not automatic and must follow the procedures in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
"There are procedures when one reaches the retirement age. Their tenures are not automatically extended. In this case (extension of service of Chief Justice Tun Maimun), I was criticised," Anwar said then.
He also said he does not interfere in judicial matters, including the appointment of judges or court decisions.
