Bar: Have Raus, Zulkefli resigned as additional judges too?

Malaysian Bar president George Varughese maintains that the duo's appointments as additional judges to continue holding their posts are against the constitution.

Malaysian Bar president George Varughese welcomes the resignations of the top two judges. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar has welcomed the resignations of Chief Justice Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, but questions whether they have resigned as additional judges as well.

In a statement last night, Bar president George Varughese said their resignations could be seen as recognition that their appointments as chief justice and Court of Appeal president were in breach of the Federal Constitution.

“However, as Raus and Zulkefli were first appointed as additional judges of the Federal Court, and thereafter to continue as chief justice and Court of Appeal president respectively, this begs the question of whether they have also resigned as additional judges.

“The Malaysian Bar has at all times taken the position that the appointments as additional judges – and to continue to hold the positions of chief justice and Court of Appeal president – were blatantly unconstitutional.

“It is for this reason that we had at the outset called upon Raus and Zulkefli to decline the appointments as additional judges, and to continue to hold the positions of chief justice and Court of Appeal president, and consequently filed a legal action seeking declarations that the said appointments are unconstitutional and void,” he said.

According to a statement released yesterday by the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court, Raus and Zulkefli tendered their resignations to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on June 7. Their resignations will take effect on July 31. -FMT