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Via Malaysiakini:

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced two top judicial appointments in one day - the Court of Appeal President and Chief Judge of Malaya.

After almost eight months of being left vacant, the post of the Chief Judge of Malaya -- the judiciary No 3 -- was filled today with the appointment of Federal Court judge Alauddin Mohd Sheriff, 60.

Also promoted was another Federal Court judge Abdul Hamid Mohamad, 63, as the Court of Appeal president.

A two-paragraph statement issued by the PM’s office said the appointments would take effect on a date to be determined soon.

Both Abdul Hamid and Alauddin are the second and third most senior judges in the judiciary after Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.

Anwar Ibrahim, Lina Joy

The new Court of Appeal president, Abdul Hamid, elevated to Federal Court on Aug 1, 2003, was also in the panel of judges of the Federal Court who allowed the appeal by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim against his six years jail sentence for sodomy.

Whereas, the new Chief Judge of Malaya, Alauddin -- appointed as a High Court judge in August 1992, then elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2001 and finally to the Federal Court in July 2004 -- was on the panel judges for the Lina Joy conversion case, where he formed the majority decision in dismissing her appeal to convert out of Islam.

Alauddin's judgment was concurred by Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, who is retiring this October.

Conference of Rulers

Early this month, Singapore Straits Times reported that the Conference of Rulers rejected the PM's nominated candidate to fill the post of Chief Judge of Malaya.

Finally, Abdullah denied this on August 28.

This particular candidate is believed to be a junior ranking Federal Court judge., reported Malaysiakini.

The jury is still out on the investigation on judges who allegedly failed to deliver written judgments habitually.