Court of Appeal chief retires, judicial succession begins

August 05, 2011

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 5 — Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff clocked out today for the last time, paving the way for Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Ariffin Zakaria to succeed Tun Zaki Azmi when the chief justice retires in September.

The Malaysian Insider reported earlier that Alauddin would retire this week, a year ahead of his mandatory retirement after serving four decades in the judiciary.

“It is because I have served in this field for 40 years which I think is way too long,” Alauddin (picture) told reporters at the Palace of Justice here today, where a farewell party was held for him.

“Secondly, it is because of my health, although it is not that bad, I thought it is best that I retire early. Thirdly, with my (health) condition now, I think I should do something else. Arbitration is the most likely thing I will be involved in,” said the senior judge who turns 65 on Sunday.

Zaki, Ariffin, judges and staff of the Federal Court and Court of Appeal attended the party.

Alauddin said he was very happy to leave as he had contributed much to the judiciary.

“My advice to judges is to work hard and uphold justice without fear or favour,” he added.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Federal Court judge Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin will succeed Ariffin as Chief Judge of Malaya while Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif will be named president of the Court of Appeal. Tan Sri Richard Malanjum will remain as Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak.

A government source had told The Malaysian Insider that the Conference of Rulers had approved the appointments recently, months after Alauddin had sent a letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in March asking to retire on his 65th birthday this year, due to ill-health related to prostate issues.

Alauddin was in line to take over the country’s top judicial post as chief justice from Zaki, who turns 66 this September 12.

The Malaysian Insider reported in March that Alauddin had sent his resignation letter despite having more than a year left in service.

Zaki was in private practice until his appointment as Federal Court judge in 2007. His tenure as chief justice has seen changes to clear the backlog in the judicial system that had led to complaints from the Malaysian Bar.

The government has committed to modernising the judicial system, including the digital registration of cases, which has run into some implementation issues, but Zaki is working with the lawyers to resolve the problems before his retirement in September.

His likely successor, Ariffin, joined the judicial service in 1974 and served in various capacities including as a federal counsel and legal adviser before being made a judicial commissioner in 1992.

He was elevated to a High Court judge two years later. In 2002 he was promoted to the Court of Appeal before moving up to the Federal Court in 2005. He is now 61 and has five years left in the service.