Former UMNO connected man to become Chief Justice

Are there no more suitable candidate for that post? Is this the revamp in justice that Abdullah Badawi is mumbling about? Is this gonna make us to uphold the truth in Malaysia? Believe it, it is Malaysia......

Friday October 17, 2008 - The Star

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/17/nation/2299576&sec=nation

Conference okays Zaki’s appointment as CJ

By SHAILA KOSHY

KUALA LUMPUR: The new Chief Justice will be Federal Court Justice Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi.

According to sources, the Conference of Rulers, which met this week, had agreed to Zaki’s appointment as head of the judiciary.

Zaki: Is the son of former Lord President Tun Azmi Mohamed.

Current Chief Justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamed, who was given a six-month extension in April, retires on Saturday.

Sources said that Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff would move up the judicial ladder to the number two position of Court of Appeal President, replacing Zaki.

It is understood that Federal Court Justice Arifin Zakaria would be elevated to Chief Judge of Malaya, the third highest position, but it could not be confirmed.

Arifin is currently the most senior of the remaining Federal Court judges (See list at www.kehakiman.gov.my).

Under Article 122B (1) of the Federal Constitution, the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Judges “shall be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, after consulting the Conference of Rulers”.

Zaki, 63, who is currently President of the Court of Appeal, made history on Sept 5 last year when he was appointed directly to the Federal Court from the legal profession.

The son of former Lord President Tun Azmi Mohamed (1966-1974), Zaki was promoted in December to President, the number two post in the judiciary.

Zaki served, among others, as the Abandoned Housing Project Scheme and National Sports Council adviser during his private practice.

He also served in Umno as disciplinary (technical) committee chairman, selection committee secretary, and was a member of the party’s disciplinary board appeal panel.

Before his appointment to the Federal Court last year, Zaki had resigned from all his corporate directorships and memberships but his former connection to Umno has been raised numerous times by some groups who worry about his impartiality.

A petition was submitted to the King on Sept 15 requesting Zaki not be elevated as Chief Justice.