KUALA LUMPUR (March 13): The tenures of Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Seri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim and two Federal Court judges Datuk Zabariah Mohamad Yusof and Datuk Hanipah Farikullah have been extended for six months, taking effect from the time they reach the judicial retirement age of 66.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed with The Edge that the government has allowed the extension for the three judges.
Zabariah will turn 66 in April, while Hasnah and Hanipah will reach that age in May.
Following the extension, Zabariah’s tenure as a Federal Court judge will extend to Oct 10, 2025, while Hasnah and Hanipah are expected to retire on Nov 14, and Nov 22, this year, respectively.
Under Article 125(1) of the Federal Constitution, a judge of the Federal Court holds office until the age of 66, with a possible extension of up to six months, subject to the approval of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
At present, two senior judges, namely Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak (CJSS) Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli who had turned 66 in January, and Federal Court judge Tan Sri Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal who turned 66 last October, are serving their six-month extensions.
Harmindar and Abdul Rahman face mandatory retirement in April and July respectively.
With Abdul Rahman’s imminent retirement, a new CJSS would have to be appointed to the soon-to-be-vacant post.
It is understood that another Federal Court judge, Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, who will turn 66 next month, was also offered an extension, but has chosen not to take it.
No decision on Chief Justice or two other judges
At present, the source said that there is no word on whether Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, her second in command — Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim — and Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan’s tenures will be extended.
Tengku Maimun and Abang Iskandar will turn 66 in July, while Nallini will reach that age in August.
The Edge has previously reported the imminent retirement of nine of the 14 Federal Court judges this year, which would create a huge vacuum in the judiciary.
With these imminent retirements, the vacancies of the top four would have to be filled by the remaining Federal Court judges — Datuk Rhodzhariah Bujang, 64, Datuk Abu Bakar Jais, 63, Datuk Nordin Hassan, 62, Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, 63, and former attorney general Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, 57, who was appointed a federal judge in November last year.
Rhodzhariah, being from Sarawak, is tipped to take over from Abdul Rahman.