Abu Bakar, the Court of Appeal president, was appointed as the acting CJM following Hasnah Hashim’s retirement last week.

“Senior judicial offices carry significant administrative and institutional responsibilities, and extended interim arrangements are neither ideal nor consistent with orderly succession,” the council’s president Ezri Abdul Wahab said in a statement.

While Ezri welcomed Abu Bakar’s appointment, he said that addressing the vacancies promptly would reaffirm Malaysia’s commitment to a stable, independent and effective judicial system.

“It would also reassure the public and the legal fraternity that the administration of justice remains anchored in certainty, principle and respect for the constitution.”

Ezri also raised concerns over the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), which is currently operating with seven members instead of the nine required under the JAC Act 2009.

With the chief judge position temporarily filled and a senior Federal Court seat vacant, the commission, he said, lacked its full judicial complement, potentially affecting its ability to deliberate and recommend candidates efficiently.

The JAC is tasked by law with identifying and recommending candidates for appointment to the judiciary’s top four posts and as judges of Malaysia’s superior courts.