CHIEF Justice Raus Sharif has been summoned to meet Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad against a backdrop of rumours that the country’s top judge is set to get the chop.

Raus arrived in a black Toyota Alphard Vellfire at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya at 2.45pm.

He made his way to Dr Mahathir’s office without saying a word to the waiting media.

Raus’ controversial service extension was met with resistance from the legal fraternity, as was the appointment of Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin as president of the court of appeal.

Also here are former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail and former judge Gopal Sri Ram.

Lawyers have opposed the appointments, with the Malaysian Bar voting overwhelmingly in favour of a no-confidence motion against Raus and Zulkefli on August 3, calling for a legal challenge to the extensions in court.

Dr Mahathir, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, had applied for a court order to compel former prime minister Najib Razak to advise the king to revoke Raus’ appointment as additional judge and chief justice in August last year.

He also initiated legal proceedings to challenge the appointment of Zulkefli as president of the Court of Appeal on constitutional grounds.

Raus left the Perdana Leadership Foundation after meeting with Dr Mahathir for more than an hour.

Against a backdrop of rumours, it is believed that the country’s top judge is set to get the chop.

Raus, who arrived at 2.45pm in a black Toyota Alphard Vellfire left the premises at 4pm.

Media personnel who were stationed at the entrance tried to get a comment from Raus but his driver refused to stop the vehicle.

Raus’ controversial service extension was met with resistance from the legal fraternity, as was the appointment of Zulkifli Ahmad Makinuddin as president of the Court of Appeal.

Lawyers have opposed the appointments, with the Malaysian Bar voting overwhelmingly in favour of a no-confidence motion against Raus and Zulkefli on August 3 last year, calling for a legal challenge to the extensions in court.

Dr Mahathir had applied for a court order to compel former prime minister Najib Razak to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to revoke Raus’ appointment as additional judge and Chief Justice in August last year.

He also initiated legal proceedings to challenge the appointments on the grounds of unconstitutionality. – May 15, 2018.