Ex-appellate court judge Hishamudin joins Malay moderate group G25

(Malay Mail Online) – G25, a group of retired top Malay senior civil servants promoting moderation, announced today its latest member, Datuk Hishamudin Mohd Yunus (pic) who retired Court of Appeal judge just a month ago.

Hishamudin, who has delivered landmark verdicts like declaring as unconstitutional a provision in the Negri Sembilan state Shariah enactment that prohibits cross-dressing, reportedly said recently that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had blocked his promotion to the Federal Court.

“He has served the judiciary with distinction,” G25 spokesman Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin said in a statement welcoming Hishamudin.

“His courage, independence and fearless integrity in upholding his oath of office will be long remembered and has earned him the respect of not only his peers but of all Malaysians,” she added.

Another landmark ruling that Hishamudin delivered was a 2-1 majority Court of Appeal decision in 2011 declaring as unconstitutional Section 15 (5)(a) of the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971 that restricts students from expressing support of, or from opposing, any political party.

G25, dominated by some of the country’s most senior-ranking civil servants who have since retired from duty, had 52 members as of last May.