KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of Malaysia.
Tengku Maimun, who is the country’s first woman to be appointed to the role, replaces Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, 66, who retired on April 12.
The Prime Minister’s Office, in a statement today, said Tengku Maimun’s term as the Chief Justice is effective May 2.
“In line with Clause (1) Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, upon advice from the prime minister and after consulting with the Council of Rulers, has consented to the appointment of Tengku Maimun as the Chief Justice of Malaysia,” read the statement.
The PMO said the date of the swearing-in ceremony and receipt of instruments of appointment in front of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will be informed by the Federal Court’s chief registrar’s office after receiving the consent of the King.
Tengku Maimun, a Federal Court judge, served as a judicial commissioner at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in 2006 and 2007.
She later served as a High Court Judge in Kuala Lumpur and later, Shah Alam until 2013. She was then appointed as a Court of Appeal Judge from January 2013 until 2018.
Tengku Maimun then took up the mantle as a Federal Court Judge on Nov 26, last year.