On retirement eve, CJ lauded by Malaysian Bar, lawyers in appreciation speeches

PUTRAJAYA, July 1 — Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and President of Court of Appeal Datuk Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim today both received accolades and appreciation from the Malaysian Bar and lawyers ahead of their retirement on July 2 and July 3 respectively.

Four lawyers took turns over about 19 minutes standing up at the end of a court case at the Federal Court here, to express gratitude to both Tengku Maimun and Abang Iskandar in an impromptu send-off.

Malaysian Bar vice-president Anand Raj, who was present for a court case here, spoke on behalf of the Malaysian Bar in both marking the end of the tenure of the two top judges and also celebrating their extraordinary legacy.

Anand said the Malaysian Bar wished to express its profound gratitude for Tengku Maimun’s visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to justice and her exceptional service, noting that she was the first woman to be Malaysia’s chief justice and also noting her multiple contributions to the judiciary.

He said Tengku Maimun’s historic appointment as Malaysia’s first female CJ on May 2, 2019 was a “symbol of progress and equality”, and that it “sent a powerful message that competency and dedication, not gender, determine one’s ability to lead”.

Based on searches of reported judgments of a local law journal, Anand said Tengku Maimun had handled an impressive number of court cases totalling 859 throughout her career, including 93 judgments at the Federal Court and with most of the 93 during her six-year term as CJ.

He said this included multiple landmark decisions.

He also noted how Tengku Maimun had overseen the judiciary’s transformation during the Covid-19 pandemic, where the necessary shift to digitisation for the courts was successfully implemented and access to justice for all Malaysians was enhanced.

Anand said Tengku Maimun had faced challenges throughout her tenure with “remarkable grace and integrity”, and that her leadership during constitutional crises had shown the judiciary’s vital role as the Federal Constitution’s guardian.

“Under Yang Amat Arif’s guidance, the Malaysian judiciary proved that it could withstand political pressures and constitutional stress tests while maintaining its independence and integrity,” he said.

“As Yang Amat Arif steps down, you will leave behind a judiciary that is more accessible, efficient and technologically advanced than before, and more importantly you leave behind a principled leadership that has enhanced public confidence in our judicial system,” he said when addressing a five-judge Federal Court panel that was chaired by Tengku Maimun and also included Abang Iskandar.

Anand said the Malaysian Bar was thanking both the CJ and the PCA because of the integrity in which court proceedings were carried out, and not because of the outcome of cases.

Anand noted that Abang Iskandar was the first judge from Sabah and Sarawak to ever hold the PCA post, which is the second highest position in the judiciary.

Abang Iskandar was appointed as PCA on January 17, 2023, and had previously also temporarily held the role of acting Chief Judge of Malaya in March 2024 until early November 2024.

Anand said Abang Iskandar’s carrying out of the dual responsibilities during that period showed his exceptional capability.

Also citing a search of reported judgments on the same local law journal, Anand said Abang Iskandar had handled 409 cases at both the High Court and Court of Appeal level, and at least 78 in the Federal Court, with many being landmark decisions that continue to shape Malaysian law.

“The Malaysian Bar wishes to record its gratitude towards Yang Amat Arif and on behalf of the Bar and the entire legal community, we thank you for your 42 years of distinguished service, your unwavering commitment to justice, and your exemplary leadership. You have served with honour, led with wisdom, and have inspired with your integrity,” he said.

“To both CJ and PCA, we wish you all the best and happy birthday,” he concluded in his eight-minute speech.

Earlier, lawyer Datuk Gurdial Singh Nijar, expressed appreciation towards the two top judges.

Gurdial said that under Tengku Maimun’s leadership as CJ, the judiciary’s credibility has been restored and reached a level on par with the best judiciary in the Commonwealth and has wiped away the lowest point marked by the 1988 judicial crisis.

Gurdial alluded to recent calls for extensions of the CJ’s tenure, and said such calls are not an attempt to “politicise” the issue but was due to reasons such as her judgments which he described as on par with the best in the Commonwealth.

“In particular also I think your vigorous defence of the independence of the judiciary which has been profiled most significantly in the last few months, I think must be accorded a place of great appreciation by members of the Bar,” he said.

Lawyer Lim Wei Jiet said he believed young lawyers, law students and civil society members are “deeply inspired” by both Tengku Maimun and Abang Iskandar.

“Your fidelity to the Federal Constitution, rule of law, judicial independence and separation of powers have certainly created a renaissance of sorts for the state of law in Malaysia,” he said, adding that he wishes both of them a fulfilling and happy retirement. This was greeted with some claps from the public gallery.

Lawyer Raja Eileen Soraya Raja Aman, who was present in court for other cases, stood up to say: “Please leave your offices with your heads held high because you have certainly allowed us to hold our heads high.”

Following the speeches, Tengku Maimun then spoke on behalf of herself and Abang Iskandar: “I wish to thank each and every one of you who have expressed your kind words, the Bar Council who has always stood behind us, we appreciate your support.

“All the support given by everyone of you in the times of challenges we face, when the judiciary is under attack. We can say we have been defended by the Bar and several other bodies and individuals. For that, I’m grateful. Thank you for all the kind wishes. We wish all members of the Bar all the best, may you succeed in all your endeavours. Thank you, court is adjourned.”

Today is the last day of work for Tengku Maimun, while Abang Iskandar’s last day at work is tomorrow.

This is because they will be reaching the age of 66, which is the mandatory retirement age for judges, on July 2 and July 3.

Later at the end of another court case here, four lawyers also took turns over around 10 minutes to give brief tributes and well wishes for retirement to both the CJ and PCA.

Lawyer Datuk N. Sivananthan said it has been a privilege and honour for lawyers to practise under the CJ’s stewardship of the judiciary: “It has been an amazing time, it’s made me very proud to be a lawyer, proud of the judiciary, proud of the quality of judges and judgments that we have.”

Saying that lawyers would miss the guidance provided by the two top judges and the pride at practising under their stewardship, he wished both of them a happy, fulfilling and relaxed retirement.

Lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad thanked both the CJ and PCA for their “exemplary leadership, unwavering dedication to justice and the rule of law”, and said their tenures have been marked by integrity, wisdom, as well as a steadfast commitment to uphold the Federal Constitution, the rule of law and the judiciary’s independence.

“You have inspired us all with your vision for a fair and progressive judiciary,” he said, adding that their legacy would remain a guiding light for the legal community and the nation.

Noting the “bittersweet” moment for expressing gratitude to the two judges, lawyer Kitson Foong said the CJ’s tenure has been defined by a commitment to upholding the rule of law, strengthening judicial independence, and ensuring access to justice for all Malaysians.

Foong said the CJ’s leadership has guided the courts through challenges with wisdom and grace and reinforced public confidence in the legal system, adding: “Your judgments have not only shaped jurisprudence but have also embodied the principles of fairness, compassion and equity.”

Foong also thanked the CJ for facilitating the Federal Court’s swift handling of so many cases seeking for a review of death sentences in such a short time, crediting the CJ for having made the process seamless together with the help of the court registry and the prison authorities.

This was after Malaysia’s 2023 abolition of mandatory death sentences for certain offences, with the courts then deciding within a year to commute or replace more than 800 death row inmates’ death sentence with imprisonment.

“No one else could have done it. I thank Yang Amat Arif for giving all those ‘banduan’ (convicts) a second chance at life,” he said.

As for the PCA, Foong praised him for his sharp legal mind, steadfast principles and deep sense of duty, and said Abang Iskandar has set enduring standards of excellence.

“You both exemplify what it means to be true custodians of justice - balancing firmness with kindness, intellect with humility, and authority with approachability,” Foong said, adding that the judiciary is stronger because of their service and that their legacies will continue on through the precedents they have set and the lives that they have touched.

Lawyer Afifuddin Ahmad Hafifi thanked the two judges for “raising the bar in upholding judicial independence and integrity”, saying that their exemplary service has transformed global perceptions of Malaysia’s judiciary and placed it on par with the finest in the Commonwealth.

Following this second outpouring of appreciation from lawyers, Tengku Maimun who was sitting with Abang Iskandar in a three-judge panel then said the two of them were “grateful for the kind words expressed by” the four lawyers and thanked them for their support and their contribution to the law.

She also thanked the lawyers for their professionalism in the case, and thanked the Malaysian Bar for always standing behind the judiciary.