I no longer have to carry this burden, says Tengku Maimun
KUALA LUMPUR : Former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat says it is now up to the government, and her successor, to carry on the duty of upholding judicial independence.
Tengku Maimun – who became the first woman to helm the judiciary when she was appointed chief justice in 2019 – reached the mandatory retirement age of 66 yesterday, with Tuesday being her last day in office.
Speaking at the launch of her book today, Tengku Maimun said she and her former colleagues had worked tirelessly to uplift the judiciary's image over the past six years.
'I no longer have to carry this burden,' she said.
'I still find it hard to fathom that I spent six years of my life as chief justice, and that I am now retired from a lifetime of service.'
Her book, Beyond The Gavel, consists of some of her written judgments from the High Court until Federal Court, as well as some of her speeches.
She also thanked her peers – consisting of lawyers and judges – who contributed to the book.
Tengku Maimun's retirement was followed by that of Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, whose judicial tenure ended yesterday.
Both vacated their office on the eve of their 66th birthday.
Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim, currently the highest ranked judge in the judiciary, is now the acting chief justice.
Hasnah, whose office ranks third in the judicial hierarchy, created history today by occupying the top three positions in the judiciary simultaneously.
Hasnah herself reached the mandatory retirement age on May 13, but she secured a six-month extension which allowed her to remain in office until Nov 14.
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