Appointment of new Chief Justice briefly discussed by Cabinet
He said yesterday's meeting did discuss the replacement for outgoing Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
'We did discuss the matter (appointment of the Chief Justice) but it was not a deep discussion. The meeting centred around what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had mentioned on the matter during the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister's Department on June 30,' he said yesterday.
Anwar had stated that the extension of service of civil servants, including top judges, is not automatic and must follow procedures in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
Tengku Maimun ended her service as the nation's 16th Chief Justice on Tuesday. She had made history as the first woman Chief Justice when she was appointed to the post in May 2019.
Tengku Maimun celebrates her 66th birthday today, therefore reaching the mandatory retirement age.
Additionally, the second most senior judge in the country, Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, retired yesterday.
Justice Abang Iskandar was the first judge from Sabah and Sarawak to hold the position.
Fahmi, who is the government spokesman, said yesterday's meeting also discussed actions to be taken against businesses suspected to be involved in profiteering after the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) came into force on Tuesday.
The meeting also discussed the heatwave currently affecting parts of the country, he added.
Fahmi said the Cabinet briefing touched on the resumption of consultation talks between Malaysia and Indonesia.
'During the Prime Minister's last visit to Jakarta on June 27, it was agreed that the two countries will revive the annual consultation.
'The Prime Minister will be visiting Jakarta on July 29 for the annual consultation and Asean Secretariat meeting.
'The annual consultation would be a good forum to raise issues between the two countries, such as the Ambalat Block,' he said.
The Ambalat Block is a sea block covering an area of 15,235 sq km. It is located in the Sulawesi Sea, or Makassar Strait, and borders Malaysian waters.
The dispute between the two nations over the Ambalat Block has been ongoing for decades and is yet to be resolved.
The border issue in Ambalat arose because of the overlapping territorial waters of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf between the two countries, whose measurement refers to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
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