Datuk Lawrence Lai Yew Son
MIRI: Putrajaya should amend the Federal Constitution to extend the retirement age of federal and appellate court judges to 70 in line with the judiciary reforms sought under ‘Malaysia Baharu’.
Former Miri mayor Datuk Lawrence Lai Yew Son, who is also a senior advocate with 34 years’ worth of experience, personally supports the suggestion made by a retired judge Gopal Sri Ram, who foresaw a ‘big vacuum’ following the retirement of the nation’s four top judges in rapid succession next year.
In is known that under the Constitution, judges retire at 66 – with an option to serve for another six months after that, provided that this receives the consent from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
The Constitution also allows a maximum of 15 judges to be appointed to the Federal Court, including top four senior judges.
Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum will retire in April, and Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zaharah Ibrahim will leave office in May – both having obtained the six-month extension.
Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Seri Panglima David Wong Dak Wah will retire in May and August, respectively.
Three Federal Court judges will also be retiring next year — Tan Sri Ramly Ali, Datuk Seri Balia Yusof Wahi and Datuk Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin.
Following this, the Federal Court would only be left with one senior judge, Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed, who was elevated in 2014 and set for retirement in 2022.
Lai, who is also vice-president of Sarawak Advocates Association, commented: “I would suggest the extension of the retirement age of all judges in Federal Court and Court of Appeal to 70 years old, to avoid the repeat of the current problems, and also to ensure continuity of experienced judges.”
Lai also called for more Sarawakians to be appointed to the Federal Court.
Among the present line-up of 14 Federal Court judges, Datuk Abang Iskandar Abang is the only Sarawakian.
Malanjum and Wong are both Sabahans.
“Only three out of 22 Court of Appeal judges are Sarawakians. This court is still dominated by judges from the peninsula, and so this issue should be reviewed,” he suggested.
In 2016, Lai had openly called for Malanjun to be given the top judiciary post amidst the appointment of acting Chief Justice when the federal government was under Barisan Nasional rule.