Newly-appointed Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Hashim Hamzah.– Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: Newly-appointed Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Hashim Hamzah has pledged to enhance the justice delivery system, emphasising the importance of judges writing grounds of judgment and speeding up court trials.
Speaking to reporters after his oath-taking ceremony at the Dewan Persidangan in the Palace of Justice on Wednesday (Dec 3), Hashim said his appointment to the third highest position in the judiciary comes with responsibility.
"You must bear in mind, being CJM (Chief Judge of Malaya), my jurisdiction is big – the whole of the Peninsula," he said, adding that as of October 2025, the courts across the peninsula collectively had 393 Sessions Court judges, Magistrates, High Court judges and Judicial Commissioners.
Calling the role "tough", he said he nonetheless had to do the work.
He said his first mission was to monitor judges to ensure they fulfil their duty to prepare written grounds of judgment, especially in cases that proceed to the Court of Appeal.
"I have seen some not writing their grounds. If you don't write your grounds, it will hinder proceedings in the Court of Appeal," he said, adding that he did not want that to happen.
Hashim, who is the 15th Chief Judge of Malaya, said there were some cases, particularly in Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam, where hearing dates had been fixed for 2027 and 2028, which he described as far too long for litigants.
To address this, he said he had to find a way to expedite hearing dates, including the possibility of requesting for more judicial commissioners.
"I want to find a way to speed it up, he said, attributing the high volume of cases in certain courts to an increase in legal disputes.
Hashim also thanked His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and all those who were involved in the process of his appointment as Chief Judge of Malaya. – Bernama
