KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 11): Former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Zainun Ali, and former federal attorney general (AG) Tan Sri Idrus Harun, are among the four new Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) members appointed, effective this month, sources told The Edge on Monday.
The other two are former Sarawak AG Datuk Seri Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid and Universiti Teknologi Mara’s legal adviser and law lecturer Prof Madya Dr Hartini Saripan.
The fifth vacancy in the nine-member commission is expected to be filled by the incoming Chief Judge of Malaya whom The Edge had earlier reported is to be Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, who will be sworn in to the position on Tuesday.
The four are expected to be JAC members for a two-year-period, as a source confirmed with The Edge, over the appointment of Idrus, Zainun, Talat and Hartini.
Zainun is also Malaysia Airport Holding's Bhd (MAHB) chairman since May this year.
The posts had been left vacant since Sept 4, following the expiry of terms of the previous members. They were former chief justice Tun Md Raus Sharif, Federal Court judge Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar, Sarawak Attorney General Datuk Abdul Razak Tready and law lecturer Professor Datuk Dr Shamrahayu Ab Aziz.
The other post was earlier made vacant following the retirement of the then Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidin Md Diah in February this year.
Established in 2009, the JAC is tasked with matters affecting the judiciary, and to consider appointments of judicial commissioners and positions that fall vacant at the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Federal Court.
The members presently occupying it are the Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak (CJSS) Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli and Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nalini Pathmanathan.
The JAC is supposed to have meetings every month to discuss matters concerning the judiciary.
However, as a result of these vacancies since September, the meetings for the months of September and October could not be held.
Possibly among the first tasks of the newly re-formed nine JAC members is to discuss the possible vacancy of CJSS Abdul Rahman, who will turn 66 years old in January 2025.
His term can only be extended for another six months as stipulated under the Federal Constitution, where judges face compulsory retirement at 66 years, which can then be extended for another six months.