INCOMPETENT JUDGES SHOULD OPT OUT - CHIEF JUSTICE

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Judges and judicial officials who feel they are unable to serve their level best should opt out for their own sake and if they decide to stay put, they should shoulder the burden in the interest of the public.

Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi issued this reminder in his inaugural speech as the 12th Chief Justice at the ceremony where he witnessed the swearing-in of Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff as Court of Appeal President and Datuk Arifin Zakaria as Chief Judge of Malaya.

Alauddin took the oath of office before Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Gopal Sri Ram while Arifin before High Court Judge Datuk T. Selventhiranathan.

Zaki, 63, formerly Court of Appeal President, was appointed as Chief Justice after Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad went on mandatory retirement on Oct 17. Alauddin's previous posting was as Chief Judge of Malaya.

Present at the ceremony were Hamid, another former chief justice Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and other justices of the Federal Court, Court of Appeal and High Court.

"We must always remind ourselves that our salaries are paid from the people's pockets. However big is our interest and however uncomfortable we are with this treatment, we must remember that the interest of the public is far bigger," said Zaki.

He said he would not hesitate to take firm and drastic action on judges and judicial officals who fail to honour their obligations well.

"It was these people who have tarnished the image of our judiciary institution. If they are dishonest, they can also be regarded irresponsible," he said.

He said such problems should be corrected without delay before it spread and if toadying exists, "I say, stop it."

Zaki said that from his observation since a year ago, he did not doubt that there were judges and judicial officals who had worked hard in carrying out their duties.

"I will make sure their efforts and hardwork do not go to waste. Prove that you deserve to be rewarded, and I will fight for you," he said.

He said the big task in front of the judiciary institution was overcoming case backlogs and the delay in disposing of cases.

People would face injustice if there were delays in dealing with their cases and to tackle this, the institution needs solid support from all quarters, he said.

Zaki also said he had not dreamt of holding the position of Federal Court Judge which carries a very heavy responsibility before he was asked to assume the post over a year ago.

"Not long after that, I was given the duty of the Court of Appeal President. Within the short time frame, I have tried to do the best of my ability," he said.

He said not many people knew the reforms that had been implemented in the registry division of the Court of Appeal. The registration method had been expedited, replies to all letters were made quickly and bureacracy at the division was presently at the minimum, he said.

He said that perhaps his experience in the commercial field made him understand and appreciate more thoroughly administrative and management issues confronting a department.

Zaki also expressed his appreciation to Hamid who paved the way for him to arrive at this stage and left an excellent benchmark for him to follow.

"Hopefully, I will not disappoint him," he said.

Zaki, whose father the late Tun Azmi Mohamed was the second Malaysian to serve as Chief Justice, said if his father was still alive, he would have been happy as his son was following his footsteps.

Met by reporters later, he said: "Write what I said in my speech. No need to elaborate. I'm not a politician."

-- BERNAMA