Bill tabled to raise judges' pension payments

The government has tabled a Bill to raise the pension for judges in higher courts and extend the number of judges entitled to pension payment and gratuity.

Nancy Shukri(right), a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, tabled the Bill for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat this morning.

It proposes to allow all judges who have served continuously for at least five years and who resign before the age of 60 to be eligible for pension and gratuity.

This will apply to judges who have served a total of five years in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court, be it in a combination of courts or in just at one of these courts.

For example, a judge who has served two years with the High Court, another two years in the Court of Appeal and a year at the Federal Court before resigning before the age of 60 would be eligible for a pension and gratuity.

The government also proposes that the pension for those eligible and their dependents be increased by two percent annually from the last-drawn salary.

For dependents, the annual increase is calculated from the last-drawn salary at the time of the pensioner’s death.

However, those appointed before the operation of the enactment can continue to receive benefits that are higher than the two percent annual increase.