Ensure justice is done, judicial commissioners told

PUTRAJAYA: Newly appointed Chief Justice Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat issued a firm reminder to judicial commissioners, saying that they should deal with cases with independence, impartiality and efficiency.

“They must ensure that justice must be done. It must not only be done but must be seen to be done. I wish them all the best,” she told reporters after attending the oath-taking ceremony of 11 judicial commissioners yesterday.

Asked about her appointment as Chief Justice, Tengku Maimun said: “We wait after my swearing-in. Anyway, all praise is to the Almighty. Alhamdulillah.”

On Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister and after consulting the Conference of Rulers agreed to her appointment, effective yesterday.

She is the first female judge to be appointed Chief Justice, replacing Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, who retired on April 12.

The 11 judicial commissioners received their appointment letters from Tengku Maimun and took their oath of office and allegiance before Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zaharah Ibrahim and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Seri David Wong Dak Wah.

They must ensure that justice must be done. It must not only be done but must be seen to be done.

Datuk Tengku Maimun

Tuan Mat

They include former Federal Court chief registrar Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar, 57, and former civil division head in the Attorney-General’s Chambers Datuk Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh.

Also appointed were advisory board chief in the Prime Minister’s Department Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud, 52, and prosecution director in the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Sabah Datuk Duncan Sikodol, 59.

Others were K. Muniandy, 57; Dr Shahnaz Sulaiman, 50; Evrol Mariette Peters, 51; Christopher Chin Soon Yin, 61; Ong Chee Kwan, 55; Maidzuara Mohammed, 52, and Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid. — Bernama