PUTRAJAYA, Aug 6 — Newly-appointed Chief Justice Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh today vowed to protect the independence of the Malaysian judiciary as he officially assumed his role as the country’s 17th top judge.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Palace of Justice, Wan Ahmad Farid acknowledged his past but stressed his commitment to judicial impartiality.
“I have had a long and varied career. I have served in all three branches of the government.
“I cannot erase my history, political or otherwise. But as I assume this most solemn ‘amanah’ (trust), for as long as I occupy this chair, I give you my unconditional pledge, in the name of my Creator, that I will vigorously protect and relentlessly safeguard the independence of this branch of government with every fibre of my being,” he said.
While he did not list his previous roles, Wan Ahmad Farid is a former Umno member who previously served as a deputy minister and Dewan Negara lawmaker.
“And now let us look forward to the future of our judiciary — one that is independent, resilient, efficient, learned and future-proof,” he added.
He repeatedly emphasised his intention to ensure the independence of Malaysia’s courts.
“I pledge to do my level best towards the betterment of the Malaysian judiciary and its independence,” he said.
“Let there be a strong message of the independence of the judiciary, which shall continue to be loud and clear, echoing not just through the halls of the Palace of Justice and other courthouses but also through all corners of our society, and all the corridors of power in our country,” he concluded.
In June 2022, Wan Ahmad Farid had voluntarily recused himself from presiding over a High Court case involving former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
At the time, he said he had resigned from Umno prior to becoming a judge, acknowledged his political background, and disclosed that a family member was an Umno division leader — citing the need to preserve public confidence in judicial independence.
Chief of Justice Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh greeting few of the law practicioners after a special speech event here at the Palace of Justice. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin
Coming soon: Reforms for Malaysia’s courts
In his first-ever speech just nine days after he was appointed chief justice, Wan Ahmad Farid outlined his plans for reform during his tenure:
- To clear backlog of court cases: Judiciary is working with government to increase the number of courtrooms and to appoint more judicial commissioners.
- To clear backlog of court cases: Judiciary to assign circuit judges and judicial commissioners to hear old cases and decide on them within a specified period, which will hopefully reduce burden on existing judges and judicial commissioners and enable them to focus on existing cases.
- To expand mobile courts (already existing in Sabah and Sarawak) to Peninsular Malaysia: To bring legal services (such as birth registrations, minor offences, legal documentation) directly to remote communities.
- To set up more specialised High Court divisions, especially at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.
- To revive circuit sittings of the Federal Court and Court of Appeal across Peninsular Malaysia: To allow lawyers and those outside the Klang Valley to have greater access to these court proceedings without having to go to Putrajaya.
- Judiciary to ensure judges sufficiently equipped to use technology in courts and to manage technology-related issues. Judiciary to keep eye on impact of evolution of artificial intelligence.
Those present at the ceremony today include Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Azizah Nawawi, former chief justices Tun Zaki Tun Azmi and Tun Md Raus Sharif; former presidents of the Court of Appeal Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop and Tan Sri Rohana Yusuf, former chief judge of Malaya Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli, and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, Sarawak state attorney general Datuk Seri Saferi Ali, Sabah state attorney general Datuk Brenndon Keith Soh were also present, as were Malaysian Bar president Datuk Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab, Sabah Law Society president Datuk Mohamed Nazim Maduarin and Advocates Association of Sarawak president Gurvir Singh Sandhu.
Chief justices and senior judges from other countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar, Turkiye joined the ceremony virtually through video conferencing, while high commissioners and ambassadors from Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, US, UK, and diplomatic representatives from Saudi Arabia and Qatar were among those who also attended the event.
Before the chief justice’s speech, AG Dusuki referred to Wan Ahmad Farid’s June 2022 decision to recuse himself in Najib’s case, praising the judge’s “powerful and principled words” then which showed a “conscientious step taken to uphold judicial integrity and public confidence”.
“It serves as a clear reminder to us all that justice must not only be done, but it must be seen to be done,” he said in a speech at the same event.
Speaking at the same event, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim also referred to Wan Ahmad Farid’s comments in his June 2022 recusal, which she said showed a “deep appreciation for the vital responsibility entrusted to an independent judiciary in safeguarding the rule of law”.
She expressed confidence that the judiciary will “remain unwavering in its commitment to uncompromising independence and unimpeachable integrity” under Wan Ahmad Farid’s leadership as the new chief justice.
She also highlighted what she described as his “strong dedication to upholding judicial independence” and “unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights”.
