CJ nomination awaiting approval from Conference of Rulers, says Dr M

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the nomination of the candidate to replace Richard Malanjum as chief justice is awaiting approval from the Conference of Rulers.

He was responding to a question about the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s purported delay in responding to the submission for the chief justice candidate.

“It seems there is a provision for the appointment to be submitted to the Conference of Rulers, and not just to the Agong.

“We have informed the Agong. There is a need for (him) to inform the other rulers, so that is being done now and we are waiting for them to give the approval,” Mahathir said in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

It was previously reported that Mahathir and the rulers were in a stalemate over the next chief justice.

The report had quoted sources saying the Istana Negara had not responded to Mahathir’s submission of the candidate, which had supposedly been done earlier this month.

Another source had claimed the rulers wanted to send a message to the Pakatan Harapan-led administration.

A courtesy call with the MB

On a separate matter, Mahathir also commented on his meeting with the new Johor Menteri Besar Sahruddin Jamal, though he did not reveal much detail.

“It is normal, a courtesy call.

“He is new so it is normal,” he said.

Their meeting had come amid speculation that state executive councillors Tan Hong Pin (DAP) and Mazlan Bujang (Bersatu) would be dropped.

The two, like Mahathir, are said to be not in the Johor palace's good books.

A day before Shahrudin was sworn in, Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar reportedly set a pre-condition for the incoming menteri besar – reshuffle the executive council.

Prior to this, Mahathir had locked horns with the Johor ruler and the crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on who has the right to decide on the next menteri besar. -Mkini