I'll give my best shot, says new CJ on his short tenure

Md Raus Sharif is the country’s new chief justice. Having turned 66 in February, he was supposed to retire two months ago.

But thankfully for him, his tenure was extended for six months after the mandatory retirement age.

However, this means that Md Raus only has until August to serve as the head of the country’s judiciary system.

Pointed out the short time frame for him to deliver as chief justice, Md Raus however said that he has been part of efforts to reform the judiciary since the time his predecessors, Zaki Azmi and Arifin Zakaria.

“All of us are very close to the management, we work as a team. We know what we need to do, what has been done (and) what needs to be done.

“My tenure is another thing. But as I’ve said, I'll give my best shot,” he said in his first press conference after being appointed chief justice today.

Like Md Raus, newly appointed President of the Court of Appeal Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin will also retire this year. Zulkefli turned 66 in March.

And like Md Raus, Zulkefli stressed how they were all “part of the team”.

“So we just carry on from where it was left. We know the workings, the mission,” he said.

Meanwhile, asked on Arifin’s suggestion that the retirement age for judges be increased to 70 years old, Md Raus said: “We support that. But that is up to the government.”

Extending the tenure of judges requires the Federal Constitution to be amended with a two-thirds majority.

On another matter, when asked on his plans to ensure that he would not be under the shadows of his predecessors, Md Raus said there was no question about being under their shadows or otherwise.

“They are all my seniors, we are very close. I'll do what I think is best for the judiciary.

“Together with my colleagues, we will do it. We will discuss among ourselves the best we can do.”

Commending Arifin (photo) for his contributions, Md Raus said they would similarly do the necessary to improve.

“And doing what he (Arifin) has been doing because reform is a continuous process,” he said.

Pays special tribute to his dear wife

Earlier, during his speech at his appointment ceremony as chief justice at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya today, Md Raus’ voice cracked when he thanked his wife, Salwany Mohamed Zamri.

“I would like to pay special tribute to my dear wife for her support, sacrifice and understanding. I also thank her for giving me space and time to do my office work at home in my study room uninterrupted,” he said, to chuckles from the audience made up of mostly the country’s top judges.

“I can say with much pride that she has carried out her role as the wife of a judge with distinction.”

He also paid tribute to both Zaki and Arifin. Wishing his immediate predecessor Arifin a “blissful retirement”, Md Raus then commended Zaki for being instrumental in taking the administration of justice to the next level by introducing reforms that cleared the backlog of court cases.

As for the aspects which he plans to pay attention to, maintenance of the rule of law, judicial independence and integrity is definitely one of them, apart from administration of justice and the judiciary’s relationship with stakeholders.

“As the newly appointed chief justice, I hereby pledge that I will be committed to maintaining an independent and competent judicial system which upholds the rule of law.

“It is my duty as well as every one of us to ensure that the independence of the judiciary is safeguarded.”

Judicial independence, he stressed, was essential to enable judges to perform their role of adjudicating disputes fairly and impartially.- Mkini