Ex-judge named new speaker

> Mahathir appoints Mohamad Ariff to preside Dewan Rakyat

KUCHING: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday confirmed that former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof ( pix) will be the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat when the 14th Parliament convenes for the first meeting of the first session today.

Asked if there was a candidate for the post, Mahathir said: “We have (one) already. He is an ex-judge. Yes, he is Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.”

From Sungai Petani, Kedah, Mohamad Ariff is well versed in commercial law, banking, securities, arbitration, constitutional and administrative law.

The 69-year-old graduated with a Bachelor of Law from the University of London (London School of Economics) in 1974 and started his career as a law lecturer, before becoming an associate professor at Universiti Malaya.

The father of five left the academic sector in 1986 when he ventured into legal practice as an advocate and solicitor.

From 1993 to 1995, Mohamad Ariff took leave from legal practice to join the then newly formed Securities Commission as its first Market Supervision Department director.

During his foray into the commerce sector, Mohamad Ariff also served as director of the Kuala Lumpur Options and Futures Exchange (1995-1996); member of the Ratings Review Committee; member of the Malaysian Ratings Agency (until 2008) and member of the Advisory Board, Companies Commission of Malaysia Training Academy (2007-2008).

His judicial career began in September 2008 when he was appointed as judicial commissioner of the High Court of Malaya and was appointed a High Court judge a year later.

In September 2012, he became a Court of Appeal judge before returning to private practice after his retirement in early 2015.

Mohamad Ariff is not known as an active participant in politics but is now a member of Parti Amanah Negara. – Bernama