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Media Statement
by Karpal Singh  
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(Kuala Lumpur, Wednesday) : The former Chief Registrar of the Federal Court Dato’ Tengku Maimun bt Tuan Mat was elevated as the Judicial Commissioner on 2nd October last year.

This necessitated Encik Ahmad Terriruddin Mohd Salleh to assume the role and functions of Chief Registrar as of early December at the behest of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission chaired by Tan Sri Jamaluddin Ahmad Damanhuri which met in December last year.

The Commission was unable to fill the vacancy because no name had been submitted to it by the Chief Justice, Malaysia. The Chief Justice did not think it fit to have the vacancy filled soon after 2nd October last year. This ought to have been done. There should be no uncertainty when coming to filling such vital posts. Likewise, Tan Sri Dato’ Siti Norma bt Yaakob, former Chief Judge (Malaya) retired on 6th January ,2007. However, the Chief Justice has taken over as acting Chief Judge (Malaya).

The post of Chief Judge (Malaya) is an important one because all High Court judges in Malaya come under his control. Here again, the vacancy should have been filled without unnecessary delay.

The Chief Justice should not have taken over the burden of the Chief Judge (Malaya) by acting in that capacity. The Chief Justice heads the Federal Court and it is Federal judges who come under his control. The Chief Justice has his hands full. He should, in fact, direct his mind and time towards writing judgements which is his primary duty.

The administration of the Federal Court should be left to the Chief Registrar and the Chief Justice should not concern himself with this. I hope, in the public interest, the posts of Chief Registrar of the Federal Court and Chief Judge (Malaya) will be filled without any further delay.

(24/1/2007)