PUTRAJAYA: Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said the Judiciary Department had always strived to uphold the rule of law regardless of heated political discussions.
The top judge said her leadership of the judiciary under four prime ministers from different political affiliations should dispel any baseless notion of her being partial to any political party.
"Just a little trivia — my tenure is the first time in the history of this country where a Chief Justice's service has coincided with four different prime ministers all from different political affiliations – Tun Mahathir Mohamad, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and at present Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"During this time, judicial panels led by me have made what we firmly believed to be correct decisions on the law and facts regardless of the heated political overtones and undertones that clothed some of these cases.
"This alone should dispel any baseless notion that I have ever been partial to any particular prime minister or any political party," she said in her speech at the opening of legal year 2025 held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here today.
Appointed in May 2019, Tengku Maimun became the first woman to hold the top position in the judiciary.
She is expected to retire in July.
"I will no longer continue to lead this institution in the coming months.
"As I leave, I hope that the appointment of the next Chief Justice is fully compliant with all aspects of the law bearing in mind the need to keep the judiciary independent in view of the unfortunate and blemishing events of history.
"The law too has developed in a positive manner where fundamental rights and liberties are given their utmost interpretation and enforced to their maximum potential.
"The role of an independent judiciary has been restored and the public are confident in us," she added.