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PUTRAJAYA (May 20): 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 are yet to receive retirement extension offers, according to Tengku Maimun.
Under Article 125(1) of the Federal Constitution, Federal Court judges serve until they turn 66, with a possible six-month extension approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Tengku Maimun and Abang Iskandar will turn 66 in July, while Nallini will reach that age in August.
Speaking to the media at the elevation ceremony of three judges here on Tuesday, Tengku Maimun said she and two other judges are waiting to see if they receive extension offers for their tenures.
“Well, I don’t think I should answer that but we will wait. It may be coming (the offer of extension), but we will wait, but as for now (we haven’t) received anything yet,” she responded when asked if she had been offered an extension and whether she would accept it.
She mentioned that the government needs to consider the extensions for Abang Iskandar and Nallini, as all three are set to retire at 66 this year.
The Edge previously reported that the upcoming retirements of nine out of 14 Federal Court judges will create a significant gap in the judiciary.
The remaining judges, such as Datuk Rhodzhariah Bujang, 64; Datuk Abu Bakar Jais, 63; Datuk Nordin Hassan, 63; Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, 63; and former attorney general Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, 57, will need to fill these top vacancies.
In March, it was reported that the tenures of Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Seri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim and Federal Court judges Datuk Zabariah Mohamad Yusof and Datuk Hanipah Farikullah were extended by six months after reaching the judicial retirement age of 66. Zabariah turned 66 in April, while Hasnah and Hanipah reached it in May.Additionally, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli and Federal Court judge Tan Sri Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal were granted six-month extensions. Harmindar retired in April and Abdul Rahman’s extension will end in July. Federal Court judge Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil also retired last month.