Court of Appeal president Abdul Hamid Mohamad has been appointed Chief Justice, which is the judiciary's most powerful post, while Federal Court Judge Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi is taking over the former's position as Court of Appeal President.
In announcing this today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said 65-year-old Abdul Hamid's appointment took effect on Nov 1 while that of Zaki, 62, would be decided later.
Abdul Hamid was made acting Chief Justice on Nov 1 when the post was left vacant following Tun Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim's retirement.
Born on April 18, 1942 in Penang, Abdul Hamid joined the judicial and legal service as a magistrate in Kangar in 1969 after obtaining his Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Singapore.
He has vast experience in the judiciary, starting off as judicial commissioner of the High Court of Malaya on May 1, 1990. Two years later, he was appointed a High Court judge.
On Sept 1, 2000, he was appointed a Court of Appeal judge before being appointed a Federal Court judge in 2003.
He was judge of the Special Court on April 1, 2007, for a two-year period. Barely five months later, he was sworn in as president of the Court of Appeal and on Nov 1 this year, appointed acting Chief Justice of the Federal Court.
Bernama has the story here
Meanwhile in an immediate response, the Malaysian Bar expressed surprise over the appointment of Zaki as the Court of Appeal president “given that there were OTHER suitable candidates in terms of Seniority and Service in the judiciary”. The Bar’s president, Ambiga Sreenevasan, said in a statement that Zaki was also only recently elevated to the Federal Court.
Zaki previously served as UMNO’s Legal Adviser and Disciplinary Committee Chairperson. He was also UMNO's Selection Committee Secretary and Deputy Chairperson of UMNO's Disciplinary Board Appeal Panel.
He stepped down from these posts in 2005 following his divorce from his second wife, Nor Hayati Yahaya.
With Abdul Hamid due for retirement next year, Zaki is the frontrunner for the judiciary's No 1 post.
For background: Read Rocky'sbru: here
Also The People's Parliament: here
Latest on Zaki's appointment by skthew: here
Biodata & pix of Tan Sri Zaki: Source: Malaysiakini, 5 December 2007)
7 comments:
They have lined up Tan Sri Zaki Azmi to be next in line. Whatever it is they will get their man to do their bidding soon.
Hi Zawi. I think you are right. They already have Zaki lined up to succeed Hamid when he reitire next year.
Today we are talking about the independence of the judiciary; the heart of the issue is that that the judiciary should be strong enough to ward off any kind of interference in its affairs.
The appointment of judges and the perceived interference in it is the subject matter of the video clip incident.
You do not parachute someone to become a Federal Court judge; not even in the national interest as some claimed.
So how do you expect the seven Federal Court Judges (Zaki's seniors and who have been bypassed) to work in peace when there is this interference?
IMO, these judges should fight or resign. But would they?
Hello Kak Ton, was at JT's place having her delicious sugee cakes noticed your callsign and being a busybody, here I am.
Nice post and interesting article too.
But I guess I've lost touch with Malaysian politics,...but interested in US politics, hoping Hilary will win, get two Clintons one go!
Hey, you a grandmother? Holy Smoke, I looked at your picture, read you grandmother, had to do a double look, no, three times actually, ha ha. Thats sure one glamourous grandmother too.
You have a nice day, Kak Ton, Lee.
..so, we are back to squre one on this? ..bidding and running dogs, controlling everything and putting people they dont like into ISA and covering up whatever mess there is, I must be naive to think that no one is above law, so now the law is someone's puppetry tool. hmm...apa nak jadi?
Hi U.Lee.
The thing is…I know you. I’ve seen you around especially at Zawi’s and at Kak Teh’s, who happen to be a close of my sister, Nuraina of 3540 Jalan Sudin.
I’ve visited your blog, the earlier one, which you deleted. Read about Zawi’s plea to you to come back. I like reading your blog... I love reading your stories, especially the latest entry - so touching.
Yup, am a grandma. Don’t get fooled by my pix lah. Am photogenic. I am what the Malays describe “Indah khabar dari rupa. Lol!
Thanks for visitng U. Lee. You have a nice day too.
Hi marykate,
By appointing Zaki the no 2 man in the judiciary, the government is paving the way for him to become the next chief justice.
Like Zawi says, whatever it is, the gomen will get its own man to do its bidding.
If Tan Sri Zaki has any shame at all, he would on his own, disqualify himself from accepting the post.
That's the most honourable thing to do.
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