KUALA LUMPUR (May 2): Federal Court judge Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has been confirmed as the new Chief Justice. Her appointment takes effect today, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Tengku Maimun’s appointment as the first woman CJ in Malaysia confirms a report by theedgemarkets.com published on April 9.

The PMO said that in line with Clause (1) of Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong approved Tengku Maimun's appointment based on the advice of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and upon consultation with the Conference of Rulers.

She replaces Tan Sri Richard Malanjum who retired on April 14.

Tengku Maimun served as a High Court judge from 2007 to 2013 and thereafter as a Court of Appeal Judge before her appointment as Federal Court judge in November 2018.