Rulers nominate Zaki as new CJ
The Conference of Rulers has today decided to stick to convention and name Court of Appeal president Zaki Azmi as the new chief justice to replace the retiring Abdul Hamid Mohamad.
The Conference of Rulers has today decided to stick to convention and name Court of Appeal president Zaki Azmi as the new chief justice to replace the retiring Abdul Hamid Mohamad.
The decision was made today at the rulers' meeting in Kuala Terengganu today, sources told Malaysiakini.
Abdul Hamid will retire tomorrow and Zaki, who is the second most senior person in the judiciary, will now assume the top post.
The federal constitution provides for the rulers to appoint the chief justice on the advice of the prime minister.
The appointment, yet to be made official, will surely cause an uproar following Zaki's previous links with Umno.
He was only appointed to the Federal Court last September and two months later he was made Court of Appeal president. He is 63 and will be at the helm for at least three years unless his tenure is extended by the government.
Sources told Malaysiakini that the appointment was discussed today at the meeting, which was also attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and all menteris besar and chief ministers.
"At the end, the rulers agreed to nominate Zaki to head the judiciary," said the sources.
Pakatan's letter
The sources also said that the rulers made no reference to a letter submitted by opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat urging for a deferment in the appointment of the chief justice.
The letter, dated Oct 16 and sent to the king and all sultans, urged the rulers to consider the public opinion on the choice of a new chief justice.
The letter was signed by PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, PAS secretary-general Kamaruddin Jaffar and DAP leader Lim Kit Siang.
"The appointment of the chief justice is important to ensure the integrity and credibility of the judiciary," they said in the letter.
The trio urged the king to consider the wishes of the people and defer the appointment of a new chief justice until an appropriate candidate is found.
In recent days about 25,000 people have signed a petition to the king to object Zaki's elevation due to his involvement with Umno.
The rulers also agreed to nominate Chief Judge of Malaya Alauddin Mohd Sheriff to replace Zaki as the Court of Appeal president.
Similarly Federal Court judge Arifin Zakaria has been nominated to be the new chief judge of Malaya.
