KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — Controversy-hit Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi rubbished today rumours that he will be rewarded with a seven-figure gratuity on top of a full pension when he retires from office.
Malaysia’s fastest-rising judge, who will be clocking out of office on Friday, did not appear surprised when asked to respond to the claim; his eyes widened only when he heard the bonus amounted to only RM1 million.
“RM1 million? I heard RM2 million,” the bespectacled top judge said in reply.
“My God! It’s utter nonsense. I don’t need that money. I’m grateful to God. God has given me enough rezeki. It’s an insult to me,” the soon-to-be 66-year-old told reporters today after opening the annual Conference of Judges at the JW Marriott Hotel here this morning.
Zaki said if he were the CEO of a company, he would have received much more than the purported RM2 million in bonus.
He noted that previous judges had received up to RM5 million after leaving the judiciary, but did not elaborate who they were.
Zaki, who has introduced several measures to speed up cases and ensure judgments are issued on time, has been dogged by controversy, the latest over amendments that allow him to get a full pension despite serving just a few years in the judiciary.
Asked his view why he was plagued by such claims, he said: “I don’t know, go ask the person who started the rumours.”
