Terrirudin, 56, who took over as AG only in September last year, has served in the office for 14 months, one of the shortest stints of all holders of the office.
He is expected to receive his appointment letter from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, at Istana Negara on Nov 12.
“Later in the day, Terrirudin will take his oath of office before Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat,” a source told FMT.
The only other AG to have been appointed an apex court judge was Mohtar Abdullah, who was elevated to the top court after he retired at age 55 in 2001.
Less than three months later, however, Mohtar suffered a stroke. He died on July 7, 2003, aged 59.
As AG, Terrirudin already meets the qualifications to be made a Federal Court judge. Article 145 of the Federal Constitution states that any appointee to the post must be qualified to be a judge of the Federal Court.
Under Article 123 of the constitution, a person qualifies to be a Federal Court judge if he is a citizen, and has for the 10 years preceding his appointment been a practising lawyer or a member of the judicial and legal services.
Terrirudin, who began his career as a legal officer in 1992, has served in various positions, including as a sessions court judge and later as chairman of the Industrial Court in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
He was also deputy head of the civil division in the Attorney-General’s Chambers and served as Kedah state legal adviser before being made chief registrar of the Federal Court in 2019.
On March 25, 2022, he was appointed solicitor-general and rose to become AG on Sept 6 last year.
Terrirudin’s successor as AG is expected to be appointed from within the AGC.
A senior AGC officer said Terrirudin will tender his resignation as AG soon. His last day in office will be on Nov 11.
New Court of Appeal and High Court judges
High Court judges Noorin Badaruddin, Firuz Jaffril, Alwi Abdul Wahab, Faizah Jamaluddin, Ahmad Kamal Shahid, Ismail Brahim and Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh are set to be elevated to the Court of Appeal.
Sixteen judicial commissioners who have served in their posts over the last two years will also be confirmed as High Court judges.
They are Azizan Arshad, Narkunavathy Sundareson, Noor Ruwena Nurdin, Jamhirah Ali, Noor Hayati Mat, Azlan Sulaiman, Kenneth Yong Ken Chinson St James, Leong Wai Hong, Noor Hisham Ismail, Roz Mawar Rozain, Fathiyah Idris, Wan Fadhilah Nor Wan Idris, Rofiah Mohamad, Wong Mee Ling, Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan and Suria Kumar Durairaj Johnson Paul.
All are set to receive their instruments of appointment from the king on the same day.
The seven appellate court judges will take their oath of office before Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, while the 16 new High Court judges will be sworn in before Justice Akhtar Tahir, the most senior High Court judge.
Under Article 122B of the Federal Constitution, all judicial appointments are made by the king, acting on the advice of the prime minister and in consultation with the Conference of Rulers.
The source said the candidatures of Terriruddin and all judicial appointees were submitted to the Conference of Rulers at its meeting in July.
The source also told FMT the post of chief judge of Malaya, which has been vacant for eight months, is not expected to be filled anytime soon.
“The position was discussed at the Conference of Rulers late last month but there was no conclusive outcome,” the source added.
Abang Iskandar presently performs the duties and functions of the CJM on an interim basis following the mandatory retirement of Zabidin Diah on Feb 29.