An urgent motion by Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) to debate the controversial appointment of Zaki Azmi as Federal Court judge met a dead end today as Dewan Rakyat speaker Ramli Ngah Talib decided the matter was of no urgency.

Ramli agreed with Salahuddin that the matter was of public interest but deviated with the former on the issue of urgency.

Salahuddin had filed the motion on Monday alongside another appeal to discuss and debate on the 'bloody' ceramah in Pantai Batu Buruk, Terengganu on Monday but both met rejection.

The Kubang Kerian MP felt that the recent appointment of Zaki as a Federal Court judge raised questions that could tarnish the credibility, integrity and the reputation of the Malaysian judiciary and the matter must be discussed urgently as it was of public interest.

Salahuddin felt that Zaki's integrity would be questionable due to Zaki's past involvement with the Umno.

"Zaki's appointment as Federal judge have solicited numerous negative reactions because the public is well aware that Zaki was a long standing Umno's lawyer and held positions in the party," he said.

"I think the reality is that the Malaysian judiciary is shocked by this move, especially when there is an abundance of more qualified and senior judges in the High and Appeals' Courts."

Controversial divorce

He felt that these judges, with their seniority and experience, have more potentials to serve as Federal Court justices.

Malaysian judiciary recently have been receiving heavy slaps on its face by various controversial issues, especially on the claims that worthy judges have been overlooked for promotions by Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.

Zaki's appointment - a first in the judiciary history for a lawyer to be directly appointed to the highest court - also elicited criticisms from various quarters.

Many felt that the 62-year-old lawyer was unsuitable to sit as a Federal judge due to his close ties with Umno.

Apart from being the party's legal advisor, Zaki had also served as Umno's disciplinary committee chairman, Umno selection committee secretary and a deputy chairperson of Umno's disciplinary board appeal panel.

He stepped down from these posts in 2005 following his controversial divorce from his second wife, who was almost half his age.

Zaki had married Nor Hayati Yahaya, then 32, in 2005, and the marriage soon fell apart after three months.

The duo had married in a ceremony in a textile shop in Perlis presided by a kadi from Thailand and both of them had agreed to burn the original marriage certificate to hide the matter from his first wife.

Onus is on Zaki

They also reached an agreement before the marriage that if the relationship soured, they would part ways.

Since then, Zaki claimed that he had received various threats from Nor Hayati, who, among others, allegedly asked him for RM10 million.

Nor Hayati had also allegedly urged him to register their marriage, failing which, she threatened to tarnish his reputation.

Despite the controversy, the Bar Council had touted the appointment as a chance to improve the image of the judiciary.

"The only problem is the perception that he is associated with Umno or is with the government. The onus is one him to prove otherwise. He has to dispel this notion," said council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.