Malaysia’s Chief Justice, Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, has sounded the alarm over a growing shortage of judges in the country, warning that the justice system is under “immense and growing pressure” due to a surge in court cases.
Speaking at the Opening of the Legal Year 2026 on Monday (Jan 12), Wan Ahmad Farid highlighted a significant rise in both criminal and civil cases over the past few years. He noted that criminal case registrations increased from 1,522,005 in 2021 to 2,486,567 cases as of November 2025, a jump of 63.37 per cent. Civil case registrations similarly rose from 303,335 to 483,933 during the same period, representing a 59.54 per cent increase.
“These figures reflect a structural trend rather than a temporary surge,” Wan Ahmad Farid said, while noting that a more litigious society also reflects confidence in the judiciary.
Despite the growing caseload, the number of judges in Malaysia remains limited, currently standing at 482. Wan Ahmad Farid warned that the high volume and complexity of cases, compared with the existing number of judges, risks affecting both the quality of decision-making and judicial well-being.
“Despite these mounting pressures, judges and judicial officers at all levels continue to discharge their duties with professionalism, diligence, and commitment — trying their level best to ensure that cases are resolved within prescribed timelines,” he said.
The Chief Justice urged the government to provide more institutional support, including increasing the number of judges. He noted that Malaysia currently has roughly one superior court judge for every 239,852 people, based on a population of 36 million. By comparison, Australia has one superior court judge for every 124,000 people, while Canada has one for every 47,000. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia’s population stood at 27.6 million as of June 2025, and Canada’s at approximately 41.6 million.
“The implications are clear. The current shortfall in judicial manpower, both at the superior and subordinate court levels, places immense and growing pressure on the justice system,” Wan Ahmad Farid said.
He also drew attention to the heavy workloads faced by Sessions Court judges and magistrates, attributing delays and uneven distribution of work to a “limited number of established posts” in lower courts. He urged the government to urgently consider increasing judicial officers in these positions.
For superior courts, the Judicial Appointments Commission is reviewing proposals for new judges and judicial commissioners, as well as potential amendments to the Federal Constitution if required.
Separately, Wan Ahmad Farid welcomed the 30 per cent salary increase for judges, which he said strengthens judicial independence and safeguards judges from undue influence. The increment, the first since 2015, was announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the Budget 2026 speech and took effect from Jan 1.
“The increment contributes to promoting the independence of the judiciary,” Wan Ahmad Farid said, as reported by The Star. He emphasized that fair compensation must go hand in hand with increased responsibility.
“Let me reiterate that a fairly compensated judiciary serves as an important safeguard — helping to shield judges from undue influence, encouraging capable legal minds to step forward in service, and allowing those who sit on the Bench to discharge their duties without undue financial concern,” he added.
The Chief Justice’s remarks underscore the urgent need for Malaysia to expand its judicial workforce and modernize support systems to handle the growing caseload efficiently, while maintaining high standards of judicial integrity and independence.
