The National Human Rights Society (Hakam) said the decision to appoint Terrirudin instead of Justice Rhodzariah Bujang, who was appointed to the Federal Court in 2020, raised serious questions about the criteria used in the selection.

It also undermined the principles of transparency and consistency that should govern judicial appointments, Hakam president M Ramachelvam said.

“The sidelining of seniority without transparent justification strikes at the heart of judicial independence and institutional integrity.

“When established conventions governing judicial appointments are abandoned without explanation, it creates the unavoidable perception that considerations other than merit, experience, and objective criteria are at play,” he said in a statement.

It was reported yesterday that Terrirudin, who was elevated to the Federal Court in November last year, had been appointed to the JAC, replacing Zabariah Yusof who retired last month.

Ramachelvam also noted serious allegations against Terrirudin which remained unresolved.

He was referring to the leakage of JAC meeting minutes in which Terrirudin was accused by a now-retired judge of interfering with the judiciary.

He said the appointment of commissioners to the JAC – a body entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of judicial appointments – while such allegations remained outstanding was troubling and set a dangerous precedent.

“Any person appointed to the JAC must be beyond reproach. The failure to resolve or investigate these allegations before proceeding with this appointment raises grave questions about the rigour of the vetting process and the government’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of judicial integrity.”

Ramachelvam urged the prime minister to provide a comprehensive explanation for the decision to depart from the established convention of appointing the senior-most Federal Court judge to the JAC.

He also demanded a thorough and expeditious investigation of the allegations against Terrirudin, with the findings to be made public.

“Malaysia’s judiciary has worked diligently to restore public confidence following past constitutional crises. This appointment threatens to undo that progress.”