THE media should play a role in ensuring the judiciary does not suffer negative perception, said newly-appointed Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.

The top judge said the media should play its role to report cases accurately, especially in terms of public interests and important cases.

“We are preparing summaries for the press. The reason behind this is because when we issue the summary, it is easier to understand rather than the entire judgment.

“They (media) will have the response and be able to report it accurately,” she said at her first media briefing at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya today.

Earlier today, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Sha presented the instrument of office to Tengku Maimun at Istana Negara.

The former federal court judge is the first woman to be made the chief justice.

Her appointment is effective May 2. She takes over from Richard Malanjum, who retired on April 12.

Tengku Maimun also clarified about another common misconception that the top judge can arbitrarily transfer judges, especially from the lower courts.

She said the transfer of judges was not the job scope of the chief justice.

“I was a chief registrar before and I never had to go and deal with the chief justice in terms of transfer of officers. That’s not a correct position.

“The chief justice has nothing to do with transfer of lower court judges,” she said.

She said such transfers are a matter for the chief registrar to decide after consultation with the Chief Judge of Malaya, or the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak. – May 6, 2019.