Concerns about possible political meddling in Malaysia's judiciary are growing as important leadership appointments draw near, as nine Federal Court judges are scheduled to retire.

Nine of the 14 justices of the Federal Court, the nation's top court, have reached retirement age, signaling a significant leadership change that will influence Malaysia's judiciary in the upcoming months. Legal experts have questioned the government's involvement over the selection process, raising worries about potential political meddling in the next appointments.

Senior attorneys have expressed increasing concern that politically influenced nominations may replace the traditional judicial structure. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior partner at a prominent Malaysian law firm stated that judges are discussing the possibility of eliminating the hierarchical structure for top posts due to politicians' desire to exert control over the court.

The main question, according to former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, is whether Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government would give more weight to political allegiance or judicial brilliance when selecting new justices.

As Malaysia's first female chief judge, Chief Judge Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat turns 66 on July 2; all eyes will be on her successor. According to reports, Tengku Maimun, who is credited with repairing the judiciary's credibility, has told Anwar's close associates that she is not requesting an extension.

The competition for important judicial leadership roles is getting fiercer since eight other Federal Court justices are also departing. The top five candidates are also vying for three other important judge positions: Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, Nordin Hassan, Abu Bakar Jais, and Rodzariah Bujang.

The future independence of Malaysia's judiciary will be greatly impacted by the decisions made in these appointments.