The long-awaited announcement of Malaysia’s new judicial leadership was made yesterday, with His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on the advice of the Prime Minister and after consultation with the Conference of Rulers, appointing Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the new Chief Justice of the Federal Court. Alongside this, Datuk Abu Bakar Jais was named President of the Court of Appeal, and Datuk Azizah Nawawi will take on the role of Chief Judge of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak.
The appointment of Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid as Chief Justice has sparked varied reactions, primarily due to his past involvement in party politics and his relatively shorter tenure compared to other judges. Concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest, given his political background.
Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid has previously recused himself from cases involving his former political party, emphasizing the importance of judicial independence. Malaysians will expect him to maintain this stance, recusing himself from cases that could raise questions about the judiciary’s integrity under his leadership.
Additionally, there is a pressing need for the new Chief Justice to initiate proceedings under the Federal Constitution, the Judges’ Ethics Committee Act 2010, and the Judges’ Code of Ethics 2009 to address allegations of judicial misconduct, particularly in light of reported leaks of minutes from the Judicial Appointments Commission. Such actions are critical to restoring public confidence in the judiciary, which has faced recent challenges.
The public holds high hopes that Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid will build on the legacy of former Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, ensuring the judiciary remains free from external interference. His 2017 statement as a Judicial Commissioner resonates as a guiding principle: “The independence of the judiciary must be defended at any cost.”
By
Syahredzan Johan
DAP National Vice-Chairman
Member of Parliament for Bangi