PUTRAJAYA, March 31 — In an emotional send-off ceremony, out-going Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria leaves his office at the Palace of Justice here today after serving 25 years in the judiciary.

Arifin, in his last speech said he had fulfilled four promises he made after taking over as a 13th Chief Justice on Sept 12, 2011.

The promises were to make mediation a core component in the judicial system, to have continuous legislative training for judges and judicial officers, to have Combined Rules of Courts that will simplify civil procedure in court and to increase jurisdiction of civil court.

He also expressed thanks to the government for giving him the honour to hold the highest office in the judiciary for over five years.

"I’m grateful that the judiciary has improved its performance and I believe that it will reach greater heights under the leadership of my successor,” he said.

Arifin was seen to have shed tears when he exchanged hugs with Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin and Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif before leaving the Palace of Justice building.

The country’s top judge, who will turn 67 on Oct 1, had his term extended by another six months last year. The retirement age for judges is 66.

Arifin, who hails from Kelantan, is married to Toh Puan Robiah Abd Kadir and blessed with five children.

Arifin, joined the civil service as a legal officer in the Prime Minister’s Department 42 years ago before becoming a magistrate in 1976.

He was the Perak state legal adviser in 1988 and went on to become judicial commissioner in 1992 and high court judge in 1994.

He was made Court of Appeal judge in 2002, a Federal Court judge in 2005 and Chief Judge of Malaya in 2008.

On Sept 12, 2011 he was appointed as Chief Justice of Malaysia replacing Tun Zaki Azmi.

Md Raus, 66, who is number two in the judiciary, has been said to be Arifin’s successor. His service had been extended for six months from February this year.

In hierarchy, Md Raus is also the most senior Federal Court Judge followed by Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin and Chief Judge of Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum. — Bernama