PUTRAJAYA (Nov 12): Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim has been appointed the new Chief Judge of Malaya (CJM), the third-highest position in the judicial hierarchy, confirming a report by The Edge on Monday about her new appointment.
Hasnah, 65, is Malaysia's third female CJM after Tan Sri Siti Norma Yaakob (2005) and Tan Sri Zaharah Ibrahim (2018). The post has been left vacant for about nine months now, after the previous CJM, Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, who was appointed to the post on Jan 17, 2023, went on mandatory retirement on Feb 29, 2024.
Hasnah was sworn in at the Palace of Justice here on Tuesday, together with former attorney general Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, who was appointed as a Federal Court judge.
One-year tenure
Hasnah is currently the third in terms of seniority at the Federal Court, after judges Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan and Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof.
She joined the judiciary as a judicial commissioner in 2010, before being elevated to High Court judge on April 4, 2012, and then further to Court of Appeal judge on March 21, 2016. She was then appointed a Federal Court judge on Dec 5, 2019.
Hasnah, however, may only be able to hold the position for one year, as judges face compulsory retirement at the age of 66, and their tenure can only be extended for another six months, as stipulated under Article 125(1) of the Federal Constitution.
Ahmad Terriruddin, meanwhile, was the sole appointee to the Federal Court. His appointment came a day after he left the AG post, which he was appointed to in September last year. Prior to his time as AG, Ahmad Terrirudin served as the solicitor general.
Also sworn in were eight High Court judges who were appointed as Court of Appeal judges, while 16 others were made High Court judges.
The eight new COA judges are Datuk Noorin Badaruddin, Datuk Seri Mohd Firuz Jaffril, Datuk Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab, Datuk Faizah Jamaludin, Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid, Datuk Ismail Brahim, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, and Datuk Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin.
The 16 new High Court judges are: Azizan Md Arshad, Narkunavathy Sundareson, Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin, Jamhirah Ali, Noor Hayati Mat, Azlan Sulaiman, Kenneth Yong Ken Chinson St James, Leong Wai Hong, Noor Hisham Ismail, Roz Mawar Rozain, Wan Fadhilah Nor Wan Idris, Rofiah Mohamad, Wong Mee Ling, Datuk Raja Ahmad Mokhzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan, Suria Kumar DJ Paul, and Fathiyah Idris. All 16 were elevated from Judicial Commissioner to the title of High Court judge.
Prior to the swearing in ceremony, all the judges received their instruments of appointment from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara in the morning.
All appointees took their oaths before Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Amar Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli.