Pandikar rejects Wan Azizah's motion to debate CJ's extension

PARLIAMENT | Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia today rejected a motion to debate Md Raus Sharif's extension as chief justice.

The motion was submitted by Opposition Leader Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Pandikar, in a letter to Wan Azizah, said her motion did not conform with the Dewan Rakyat Standing Order.

"After scrutinising the motion, I found that the motion you submitted was not in line with Standing Order 27(3) which requires any motion to have at least a 14-day notice before it can be debated," he said.

Wan Azizah had sought to raise the issue of Md Raus' extension which critics claim is unconstitutional.

The Federal Constitution requires the Chief Justice to retire after attaining the age of 66 years and six months.

It also allows the appointment of additional judges, which do not have an age limit.

Md Raus was appointed as an additional judge but retained his position of Chief Justice despite surpassing the age of 66 and six months.

Yesterday, Wan Azizah submitted the motion together with signatures from 60 MPs endorsing it.

Article 127 of the Federal Constitution restricts Parliament from discussing the conduct of judges of the Federal Court, Court of Appeal and High Court.

However, it also allows the matter to be debated on the condition that at least one fourth of the House agrees to it.

In the case of the current Parliament comprising 222 members, 56 MPs are required. - Mkini