SO the curtain will come down today (July 1) for Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat’s illustrious career spanning more than four decades in Malaysia’s judiciary service.
Editor’s Note: Even on her last day of service today (July 1), Tengku Maimun has presided over two Federal Court cases:
- That of former MUDA secretary-general Amir Hadi who was charged in 2022 with failing to give the police five days’ notice before organising a protest outside the Sogo complex in Kuala Lumpur; and
- To cite The Edge, “In her last decision as a Federal Court judge, out-going Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has set aside the conviction and freed three men involved in the 2015 murder of deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais but upheld the death penalty for ex-military doctor R. Kunaseegaran who masterminded the murder.
The pinnacle of Tengku Maimun’s career came on May 2, 2019 when she became the first Malaysian woman in history to hold the position.
Coincidentally, it was during the short-lived Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration when the-then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah assented to Tengku Maimun’s appointment based on the advice of twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Despite the legal fraternity – spearheaded by the Malaysian Bar – and law-abiding Malaysians rallying for a six-month extension past her mandatory retirement age of 66, the ruling Madani government which has long campaigned to defend the independence of the judicial institution has other thoughts.
Unfortunately, the power that be does not see as “double standards” what man-on-the-street Malaysians see – simplistically, the former has no qualms renewing the service contract of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) head honcho Tan Sri Azam Baki thrice but unwilling to even extend Tengku Maimun’s tenure for once.
Final tribute
Not only that their pleas have fallen on deaf ears, Malaysians at large were accused of politicising/interfering in the extension of Tengku Maimun’s tenure [and that of Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim which will lapse tomorrow (July 2)].
As what needs to be said has been said, the least Malaysians can do for Tengku Maimun who is still oozing with so much zeal and legal prowess is probably to wish her a more than deserving “Happy Retirement”.
Below is a recap of 10 interesting facts about Tengku Maimun who has so profoundly endeared herself to Malaysians for having steadfastly upheld the Kuala Lumpur High Court conviction of kleptocrat Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his maiden 1MDB scandal trial at the apex Federal Court on Aug 23, 2022:
- Holding a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (LL. B.) from Universiti Malaya, Tengku Maimun completed his studies in 1982.
- The Kota Bharu, Kelantan native began his career in 1982 as a legal officer at the South Kelantan Development Authority (KESEDAR) and then the Seremban Municipal Council.
- She joined the judicial and legal services in 1986 as an assistant parliamentary draftsman in the Drafting Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
- Over a period of 19 years, she served as a magistrate at the Port Dickson Court; federal counsel at the Kuala Terengganu Legal Aid Bureau; senior assistant registrar at the High Court in Seremban; deputy registrar at the Kuala Lumpur High Court; special officer to the Chief Judge of Malaya and the Chief Justice of Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge; High Court of Malaya registrar; and the Federal Court of Malaysia chief registrar.
- Her last position in the Judicial and Legal Service was as the Federal Court of Malaysia chief registrar from 2005 to 2006.
- On Oct 2, 2006, Tengku Maimun was appointed as the judicial commissioner of the High Court of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur while on Sept 5, 2007, she was promoted to the rank of judge of the High Court of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.
- On Jan 8, 2013, Tengku Maimun was appointed as a Court of Appeal judge while on Nov 26, 2018, she assumed the position of the Federal Cour judge.
- On May 2, 2019, Tengku Maimun was appointed as the Chief Justice of Malaysia by the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on the advice of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
- On Aug 17, 2020, Tun Tengku Maimun was awarded the Darjah Seri Setia Mahkota which carries the title “Tun”.
- Tengku Maimun is married to Datuk Zamani Ibrahim and is blessed with four children. – July 1, 2025
Main image credit: AskLegal.my
