PM: Tengku Maimun chosen for her abilities

PUTRAJAYA: The Chief Justice of Malaya was chosen based on her ability, not because of her gender or race, says the Prime Minister.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said anyone who had the right qualifications would be appointed.

“We appoint not on the basis of sex or colour or whatever.

“If you have the ability, I think you deserve to be appointed,” he said at a media interview on Pakatan Harapan’s one year as the government.

“Today, not many people have condemned the appointment of the CJ.”

Late last week, Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat was appointed as the new CJ, replacing Tan Sri Richard Malanjum who has retired.

Tengku Maimun was sworn in by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday.

At the same event, Dr Mahathir also said Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim (TMJ) was a “little boy who does not know anything”.

“I don’t want to comment on the Sultan of Johor.

“If I say anything, that is not good, it is not nice because he is the Sultan.

“This TMJ – he is a little boy,” said Dr Mahathir.

He was responding to TMJ’s lament that the good deeds of the Palace of Johor were not being given enough credit and that this had further ruffled the relationship between the government and the Johor royals.

“Well, he is stupid because he does not know what is happening.

“So, don’t talk. If you don’t know anything, don’t talk,” said Dr Mahathir.

TMJ claimed that the Johor royal family was a victim of “character assassination” and was being unfairly criticised over the Rapid Transit System project.

In a series of tweets on Saturday, the Johor Crown Prince claimed that many of Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar’s noble deeds were not brought to the attention of the public.

He first re-tweeted Sultan Ibrahim’s statement about handing over a plot of land in Bukit Chagar to the government without any cost if it was for the RTS project.

“How much land has the Johor Sultan given to the people and the government until now?

“Millions have been given to the government.

“His Majesty managed to settle the government’s debt in his second year as sultan.

“How many millions were given to foundations? News of his good deeds were not publicised.

“Land for mosques and temples. People going to haj pilgrimages?

“Thousands were aided by His Majesty. Donations to hospitals. No news,” he pointed out in another tweet.

Tunku Ismail then added: “Only the ‘bad news’ has been brought to the public’s attention.”