PETALING JAYA: Acting Chief Justice Hasnah Hashim has summoned an urgent meeting of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), the body that proposes judges for appointment and elevation, according to sources.
The sources said the meeting is scheduled for 3pm today, although Section 13(2) of the JAC Act 2009 stipulated that 10 days’ written notice be given to commission members.
Hasnah, who took office yesterday, is the commission’s chairman by virtue of her position as the nation’s top judge.
“The purpose for meeting on an urgent basis is unclear,” one source told FMT.
Sections 13(4) and (5) state that the quorum for the meeting is seven, but in the event of the disqualification of members, the quorum shall be reduced to a minimum of five members.
Currently, only seven members remain on the JAC following the mandatory retirement of former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal President Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim earlier this week.
Hasnah, in her capacity as Chief Judge of Malaya (CJM) and Abdul Rahman Sebli as Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak (CJSS) are JAC members by virtue of their positions in the judiciary.
Former attorney-general Idrus Harun, retired Federal Court judge Zainun Ali, former Sarawak attorney-general Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid and UiTM legal adviser Hartini Saripan were appointed last year as eminent persons by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Federal Court Judge Zabariah Yusof was appointed to the JAC in March by the prime minister.
The JAC is tasked with selecting suitable candidates to sit as judges in the superior courts – the Federal Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Courts.
Sources said a list of candidates for the posts of chief justice, Court of Appeal president, CJM, and CJSS have previously been submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office during the tenure of Tengku Maimun.
Article 122B(1) of the Federal Constitution provides that the appointments are made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, acting on the advice of the prime minister, and after consulting the Conference of Rulers.
The next conference is scheduled in two weeks.
