CJ Tengku Maimun retires. What's next?

Malaysian Reserve

2 days ago

THE departure of Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat as Malaysia's chief justice (CJ) has been in the news for months now, though not necessarily for the reasons one might expect.
The six-month extension that never materialised is hardly an issue. Historically, such extensions for superior court judges — comprising the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court — have been rare. When granted, they were typically limited to enabling judges to clear pending paperwork from their chambers, not to hear new cases. Extensions only became more common in recent years.
Nor is the interest in her retirement tied solely to her historic status as the first woman to hold the post since her appointment in 2019. She shattered the glass ceiling in style. She shattered the glass ceiling in style. Her exit has drawn widespread admiration — well deserved, given her legacy.
During her tenure on the bench, Tengku Maimun was praised for her perseverance, unshakable integrity and unwavering commit- ment to justice. A former colleague described her as possessing 'a sharp intellect, meticulous attention to detail and a resolute determination to approach every challenge with poise and precision.'
But what truly set her apart, according to Tan Sri Zainun Ali — a former Federal Court judge — was her humanity.
Speaking at the recent launch of Behind the Gavel in Kuala Lumpur — one of Tengku Maimun's first public appearances after her retirement on July 1 — Zainun reflected: 'Her leadership demonstrated an extraordinary ability to listen not only to the facts of the case but to the human experiences behind them. Her capacity to understand the lives affected by law set her apart. She viewed justice not just as an intellectual exercise, but as a moral and human endeavour.'
Echoing this sentiment, Singa- pore Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon wrote in the book's fore- word: 'What stands out promi- nently from her jurisprudence is her courage — the strength of character and deep conviction to uphold the rule of law, safeguard judicial independence and simply do right by all manner of people. This moral courage has defined her tenure as leader of the Malaysian Judiciary.'
As she made her final appearance at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, senior lawyer and former law professor Datuk Gurdial Singh Nijar paid tribute: 'Under your leadership, the judiciary's credibility was restored and reached to a level on par with the best in the Commonwealth.'
Indeed, there is no question about the quality of Tengku Maimun's leadership or the impact of her judgments. They are sound, forceful and committed to delivering justice.
Yet, beneath the surface of these tributes lies a growing unease within legal circles — not over her record, but over what comes next.
A wave of retirements has left the judiciary facing a significant leadership vacuum. The day after Tengku Maimun stepped down, Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim — the second most senior member of the judiciary — also retired upon reaching the mandatory age limit of 66.
Abang Iskandar, the first person from Sarawak to hold the position, previously served as chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak — the fourth-highest post in the judiciary after the Chief Judge of Malaya (CJM).
Next in line, in terms of seniority of service in the Federal Court, is Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, who will retire in August. None of these three senior judges received the six-month extension recently granted to some of their peers.
This rapid succession of exits has created a temporary gap in leadership. In the interim, CJM Tan Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim has been appointed acting CJ while Federal Court judge Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof steps into Abang Iskandar's role on an acting basis.
Even this vacuum does not rock the judiciary, in itself. There are plenty of qualified individuals ready to rise to the occasion. So why the anxiety?
The real concern lies elsewhere — specifically, in the possibility that the Madani government already has its preferred candidate for the top judicial post. Rumours suggest that the administration may be positioning Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh as the next CJ.
Ahmad Terrirudin has had a varied career, having served as a Sessions Court judge in Kuala Lumpur, chief registrar of the Federal Court, Solicitor-General, and, most recently, Attorney General (AG) — a post he held for 14 months before his elevation to the Federal Court in November 2024.
He is widely seen as an establishment figure. Legal insiders whisper that a senior minister from UMNO played a key role in fast-tracking his rise through the ranks.
How Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim handles this vacancy will be telling. There is no room for deflection here. The choice of the next CJ will send a powerful signal — not just about the direction of the judiciary, but about the government's commitment to upholding judicial independence and pushing its reform agenda.
In the end, the transition must reflect more than political convenience. It must affirm the principles that Tengku Maimun championed throughout her tenure: Integrity, impartiality and above all, justice.
Habhajan Singh is the corporate editor of The Malaysian Reserve.
This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition