Malaysian Rulers discuss judiciary vacancies, defence, seized assets policy

The 269th Conference of Rulers met at Istana Negara on July 16, presided over by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Among the topics discussed was the judiciary, specifically the appointments of the Chief Justice of Malaysia, the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judges of the High Courts of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as judges of the Federal Court, Court of Appeal and High Courts.

Malaysia has been without a Chief Justice since the retirement of Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat on July 2. The latest name to emerge as a possible successor is Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh.

Other matters discussed included national security and defence, with briefings delivered by the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of the Defence Forces.

Also tabled at the meeting were legal opinions from the 126th and 127th meetings of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) Muzakarah Committee, along with resolutions from the 2025 Special Meeting of the Muzakarah Committee.

The meeting also addressed the proposed ban on the sale and use of vapes or electronic cigarettes in the country.

The Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, in a statement yesterday, said: “The Conference received the latest briefings on national security from the Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail, and on national defence from the Chief of the Defence Forces, General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar.”

The Conference was also briefed on the need to register marriages involving refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, as well as the Cabinet paper regarding a centralised policy on the management of seized and forfeited assets.

Present at the meeting were Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail; Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah; Sultan of Kedah Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah; and the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir. Also in attendance were the Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra; the Tunku Temenggong of Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim; and the Tengku Arif Bendahara of Pahang, Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Ri’ayatuddin Shah.

Governors Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar of Sarawak, Tun Dr Mohd Ali Rustam (Melaka), Tun Musa Aman (Sabah) and Tun Ramli Ngah Talib (Penang) also attended. Also present were Chief Ministers and Menteris Besar, including the representative of the Sarawak Premier.

His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, graced the pre-council meeting on July 15, also at Istana Negara.

The last Conference of Rulers meeting was held on Feb 5. It was presided over by the Sultan of Kedah.

Main image: Selangor Royal Office