PM pushes back against lobby to extend CJ's term, calls it politicisation

PM pushes back against lobby to extend CJ's term, calls it politicisation


Summary

• Efforts to lobby for the extension of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat are a politicisation of the judicial appointments process, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

• Anwar stresses that the prime minister plays no part in judicial appointments and that he is caught between a rock and a hard place.

• He similarly says that the recent DNAA and acquittals in high-profile court cases are the judiciary’s sole prerogative.

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kt comments:

PM Anwar is correct in that the recent frenetic frenzied fanatical demands for the contract of out-going CJ Tengku Maimun to be extended is nothing short of 'politicisation'.

PSM's Aru even had the brazen kerbau-ism to suggest the PM's silence on extending CJ Tengku Maimun's ending contract would be reminiscent of the 1988 'Constitutional Crisis'. What balderdash when in 1988 it was the evil doings of a draconian dictator who ousted the Lord President whilst now it's the time ending of the CJ's contract terms - where's the frigging equivalent?

Tengku Maimun's contract may be extended or not extended, depending upon the circumstances, but to apply undue political pressure on the PM is sheer bullying - frigg off pluz!

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PM Anwar: Judicial extensions not automatic, follow Constitution, not politics



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (second from right) speaks at the monthly assembly of personnel in the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya on June 30, 2025 — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Monday, 30 Jun 2025 10:47 AM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, June 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said judicial appointments and service extensions are not automatic, but must follow constitutional procedures.

He said this applies not just to judges but also to civil servants nearing retirement.


“Those who understand the Constitution will know the process.There is a commission, there is the Prime Minister, there is the King, and the appointments are discussed with the Conference of Rulers. Everything follows procedure.

“Any officer nearing retirement must follow established procedures. An extension of service is not automatic, yet it has now become a political issue, with campaigns either demanding a reappointment or opposing it,” he said after the monthly assembly for staff at the Prime Minister’s Office here.


Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat is set to retire upon turning 66 on July 2, the mandatory retirement age for judges.



Speculation has been rife about whether her tenure will be extended or otherwise but the government has not yet made any announcements.

Under Article 125(1) of the Federal Constitution, judges may be granted such an extension with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.


Anwar also spoke on two recent high-profile court decisions and the following public perceptions that hinted at political interference.

He stressed that he does not interfere in judicial decisions and refrains from meeting senior judges unless necessary, which is on administrative matters.

“I have observed two major recent cases, one involving Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the other, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, both received DNAA,” he said, using the initials for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

“Yet both sides had opposing views. This clearly shows it’s not a matter of principle, but political opinions,” he said.

He said that whether the courts chose to grant a DNAA or otherwise “that is not my responsibility. If they choose not to, that too is not within my control”.

He said his duty as prime minister is to uphold the independence of the judiciary.