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His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has approved the appointment of Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the new Chief Justice of Malaysia, effective 28 July 2025
This pivotal role, the highest position in the Malaysian judicial system, heads the Federal Court, the highest court in Malaysia.
The Chief Justice is responsible for upholding the Federal Constitution and the rule of law, ensuring judicial independence, and overseeing the administration of justice across the nation.
Wan Ahmad Farid's appointment, confirmed by the Federal Court Chief Registrar's Office, sees him taking over from Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who retired on 2 July.
His appointment follows an unprecedented period in Malaysian history where the top two judicial posts fell vacant simultaneously, raising concerns over the state and independence of the courts.
PKR lawmakers believe Wan Ahmad Farid's appointment could help quell public concerns, reported the New Straits Times.
Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh.
Image via theSundailyWhy is his appointment important?
His selection is particularly notable given his past as an UMNO deputy minister, a fact that has drawn attention and discussion within legal and public spheres.
Despite this political background, members of the legal fraternity have largely dismissed concerns, highlighting his judicial record and consistent commitment to impartiality.
The Malaysian Bar, through its president Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab, has expressed strong support for Wan Ahmad Farid, praising his dedication to judicial independence, reported The Star.
The endorsement carries weight, coming just days after the Malaysian Bar organised a 'Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence, a public protest highlighting serious concerns about the state of the judiciary and the need for leadership continuity and reforms.
Prior to Wan Ahmad Farid's appointment, some experts had feared that Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh might be named for the top post, given his recent role as attorney-general under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from September 2023 to November 2024.
After leaving the Attorney-General's Chambers, he was appointed as a Federal Court Judge on 12 November 2024.
Analysts feared that picking Ahmad Terrirudin as the Chief Justice would be an interference with judicial independence, given his ties to Anwar.
Under Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, the appointments of top judges, including the Chief Justice, Court of Appeal President, and Chief Judge of Malaya, are made by the King upon the prime minister's advice, after consulting the Conference of Rulers.
The prime minister holds substantial power in determining who becomes the top judge, leading analysts to assert that while Wan Ahmad Farid's appointment is a positive step, fully restoring trust in judicial independence will be difficult without reforms to lessen executive influence in the selection process, reported the Straits Times.
As Malaysia welcomes its new top judge, here are five key facts about Wan Ahmad Farid
1. A distinguished career spanning politics and law
Wan Ahmad Farid, 62, brings a unique blend of experience from both the political and judicial spheres.
His public service career began as a Senator in December 2005, serving for two terms.
He was then appointed deputy home minister from March 2008 to April 2009 during the administration of the late former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, where he also served as a political secretary, reported Bernama.
A former Kuala Terengganu UMNO division chief, he formally retired from politics in 2013, before embarking on his judicial journey, reported Scoop.
2. Steady ascent through the judicial ranks
His judicial career commenced with his appointment as a Judicial Commissioner in 2015.
He served in the High Courts of Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur, and Kota Bharu until 2019, when he was elevated to a High Court Judge, reported Bernama.
His postings as a High Court Judge from 2019 to 2024 included Kota Bharu, Shah Alam (Special Powers Division), and Kuala Lumpur (Special Powers Division 3).
Most recently, he was appointed a Court of Appeal Judge on 12 November 2024, before his elevation to Chief Justice.
3. A champion of judicial independence, proven by recusal
Despite his political background, Wan Ahmad Farid has firmly demonstrated his commitment to judicial integrity.
The Malaysian Bar notably commended his decision in June 2022 to recuse himself from a high-profile case involving the admission of Queen's Counsel Jonathan Laidlaw to represent former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his final appeal for the misappropriation of RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, reported the NST.
Wan Ahmad Farid cited a potential conflict of interest due to a family member's active involvement in the same political party as Najib, emphasising that "the public perception of the independence of the judiciary should not be put in doubt" and that "an independent judiciary is a precious gift to any society".
This act of self-awareness and prioritising judicial integrity was widely lauded.
4. Presiding over significant and complex cases
Throughout his tenure as a judge, Wan Ahmad Farid has presided over various significant cases.
In May 2023, he presided over a case to rule that the children of Loh Siew Hong had lawfully converted to Islam under Perlis state law, reported the NST.
In November 2024, he ordered the police to complete their investigation into the death of Teoh Beng Hock within six months, citing extreme delays, reported FMT.
He also delivered a landmark constitutional ruling in 2024, asserting that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's authority to declare a state of emergency under Article 150 of the Federal Constitution is a non-justiciable prerogative power.
Wan Ahmad Farid is seen here with then deputy prime minister Najib Razak in 2009.
Image via Scoop5. Strong academic and early legal foundations
Born on 13 November 1962, in Kuala Terengganu, Wan Ahmad Farid obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of West London in 1985.
He then earned a Certificate in Legal Practice (Hons) from Universiti Malaya in 1986, and was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1987. He began his legal career as an advocate and solicitor in Kuala Terengganu from 1987 to 2003, reported NST.
After his political career, he returned to legal practice between 2011 and 2015 as a partner at Messrs Wan Farid & Surin in Kuala Lumpur.
