This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on November 27, 2019

PUTRAJAYA: The search is on for a candidate to fill the vacancy in the Court of Appeal president’s post following Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop’s retirement on Monday.

Judges in Malaysia retire at the mandatory age of 66, and their services can be extended for another six months as stipulated under the Federal Constitution.

Ahmad was appointed Court of Appeal president on July 11, 2018. He was Chief Judge of Malaya prior to that.

With the vacancy in the Court of Appeal president’s post, there is a possibility that Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed or any Federal Court judge will be elevated to become the next Court of Appeal president.

The Court of Appeal president appointment requires recommendations from the Judicial Appointments Commission and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, followed by consent from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

The Court of Appeal president’s post may be filled at the earliest on Friday, when an event is scheduled to mark the elevation of judges at the Palace of Justice here.