27/9/2017 fast approaching - What will current President of Court of Appeal Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin - will he follow Raus? Or will be behave differently - refusing the extra two(2) years as additional judge? Refusing the re-appointment as President of Court of Appeal?
On 3/8/2017, Raus Sharif would had ended his service as the Chief Justice, then in all likelihood, it would have been Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin who may have been most likely appointed to be Chief Justice until he ends his term on 27/9/2017.
When Raus was made 'additional judge' for three(3) years begining 4/8/2017 for a three year term, and later reappointed on that day to continue to be the Chief Justice, Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin lost his chance to be the Chief Justice.
Yes, we are all aware that Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin has also been appointed to be 'additional judge' begining 28/9/2017, but for only a two(2) year term. Even if he is, reappointed to be the President of the Court of Appeal - he would, it seems, never get the chance to be the Chief Justice - the head of the Malaysian Judiciary.
Maybe, we should be asking why Najib Tun Razak seems not to want Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin to be the Chief Justice(Ketua Hakim Negara)?
After all, Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin could have also been appointed for a three(3) year term or even a four(4) year term.Why did the former Chief Justice do what he did?
Arifin Zakaria (ex CJ)dan PM Najib, serta Raus kini, menyebabkan 'Judicial Crisis' baru untuk Malaysia?
Chief Justice, even after retirement, for 3 more years? Wrong or Right?
Hopefully CJ Raus will quit - Resolution of the Malaysian Bar
Jika Raus kekal jadi ketua Badan Kehakiman, PM Najib pun boleh lantik ramai Hakim hari terakhir beliau ada kuasa?
4 Ogos - 'krisis badan kehakiman' jika YAA Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Md Raus kekal 'Chief Justice' untuk 3 tahun?
UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary - Chief Justice and imminent 'judicial crisis'?
BANGALORE PRINCIPLES OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT
BUT, despite numerous calls, Tan Sri Md Raus chose not to listen, and he was sworn in as Chief Justice AGAIN at 10.30pm. So, Malaysia did not have a Chief Justice for just 22 hours 30 minutes...?
Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif has been sworn in again as the Chief Justice.The ceremony before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara started at about 10.30pm yesterday and was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Court of Appeal President (PCA) Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop and Federal Court Chief Registrar Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar.- Star,5/8/2017
Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin - well, his time to choose is fast approaching as 27/9/2017, being the last day, is drawing near..
Will he behave more honourably, and refuse to serve as 'additional judge' beyond 27/9/2017?
Will he behave more honourably for the good of Malaysia, and refuse to be re-appointed as the President of Court of Appeal to serve from 28/9/2017 for two(2) more years?
Lawyer: Raus, Zulkefli’s appointments can be heard in Federal Court
Bars representing lawyers in the peninsula, Sabah and
Sarawak can request judges to refer cases straight to the apex court,
says constitutional lawyer Bastian Pius Vendargon.
PETALING
JAYA: Lawsuits to challenge the retention of Malaysia’s two top
judicial officials in their administrative posts can be heard together
in the Federal Court although the action will come from two separate
legal territories, a constitutional lawyer said.
Bastian Pius Vendargon said the suits could be case managed before
High Court judges in Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur, and then
referred to the apex court.
“The legal challenge could be heard together because it is a common issue,” he told FMT.
Vendargon said this in response to the unprecedented mandate given by
lawyers to the peninsula-based Malaysian Bar, the Advocates Association
of Sarawak (AAS) and the Sabah Law Society (SLS) to commence legal
proceedings on the constitutionality of the appointments of Raus Sharif
as Chief Justice and Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin.
The Malaysian Bar obtained the mandate from members on Aug 3, the AAS on Aug 26 and the SLS on Aug 28.
Under the Federal Constitution, the Malaysian Bar comes under the
jurisdiction of the High Court of Malaya while the AAS and SLS are under
the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak.
Vendargon said he believed the three parties would rely on section 84
of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 to alert the High Court judges to
refer their cases straight to the Federal Court as the appointments of
Raus and Zulkefli affect a number of provisions in the constitution.
Lawyers who attended the Malaysian Bar’s extraordinary general
meeting and the AAS’ extraordinary delegates conference also wanted the
constitutionality of the appointments of the duo to be determined by a
special panel of retired Federal Court judges.
However, the position taken on this by lawyers in Sabah is unclear.
Raus reached the mandatory retirement age of 66 years and six months on Aug 3, while Zulkefli will turn that age on Sept 27.
However, the government announced on July 7 that Raus’ tenure as
chief justice will be extended for another three years by making him an
additional judge from Aug 4.
Zulkefli, too, will remain as Court of Appeal president for another two years by being made an additional judge from Sept 28.
In a press conference on Aug 5, a day after he was sworn in again as
chief justice, Raus defended his reappointment, saying that although the
move was unprecedented everything was done according to the law.
He said it was best for the courts to decide since there were two conflicting views on the matter.
Lawyers and retired judges have argued that the constitution does not
allow additional judges to double up as holders of administrative
positions.
Retired chief justice Zaki Azmi, who argued that the appointments
were valid, said the provision for additional judges were utilised as
Raus and Zulkefli had only been in their positions since April 1.
Further, he said a constitutional provision that allowed judges to
remain in office up to 66 years of age plus six months of extension was
archaic compared with other Commonwealth countries.
The Malaysian Bar, in an overwhelming majority took a no-confidence
vote against Raus and Zulkefli and also obtained a mandate to begin a
legal challenge against the two.
The Bar also decided that it would not invite Raus and Zulkefli to
any social function while members are also encouraged to decline social
invitations from them, or inviting them.
Its president George Varughese said the Bar also agreed that serving
Federal Court judges should not hear the matter since they would be
placed in a conflict of interest position.
The Malaysian Bar called upon the Chief Judge of Malaya Ahmad Maarop
to advise the king under Article 122 (1A) of the constitution to appoint
persons who had held high judicial office as additional judges for the
sole purpose of hearing and determining the said legal challenge.
He said due to the disability of Raus and Zulkefli, Ahmad, as the
next most senior judge in the judiciary, could step in to exercise the
powers of the chief justice and advise the king.
It is unclear whether the Bar has filed its action against the judges
but former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has filed a judicial
review application which is scheduled to be heard on Oct 24. - FMT, 5/9/2017
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