PUTRAJAYA: Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin had taken their judicial oath as additional judges for the Federal Court before they were sworn in as Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal respectively, according to a statement issued by the Federal Court Chief Registrar’s Office today.
Raus had earlier taken his oath as additional judge for the Federal Court on Aug 4 at the Palace of Justice before Zulkefli, it said.
Subsequently Raus took his pledge as Chief Justice before the King at Istana Negara on the same day.
Zulkefli took his oath as additional judge in the Federal Court on Sept 28 at the Palace of Justice and was subsequently sworn in as Court of Appeal president on the same day before Court of Appeal senior judge Datuk Wira Mohtarudin Baki.
According to the statement, the swearing-in of Raus as additional judge was in line with Article 124 (4) of the Federal Constitution.
Article 124 (4) provides that “a person taking the oath on becoming a judge of the Federal Court shall do so in the presence of the Chief Justice or in his absence, the next senior judge available for the Federal Court”.
Zulkefli also took his oath as additional judge for the Federal Court in accordance with Article 124 (4) of the Federal Constitution and he was sworn in as President of the Court of Appeal pursuant to Article 124(2A) of the Federal Constitution.
The statement came following an article by Free Malaysia Today on Sept 29 titled “Lawyer: Did Raus, Zulkefli take oath as additional judges”.
On July 7, the Prime Minister’s Office announced the appointment of Raus and Zulkefli as additional judges for the Federal Court for a period of three years and two years respectively.
Raus and Zulkefli were supposed to retire on Aug 3 and Sept 27 as they were already on a six-month extension after they turned 66.
The retirement age for judges is 66. – Bernama