PUTRAJAYA, July 3 -- "Bittersweet" is how Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim described his feelings as he retired as the 12th President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), which is the second highest-ranking position in Malaysia's judiciary.

Abang Iskandar made history on January 17, 2023 as not just the first Sarawakian, but also the first east Malaysian to be appointed as PCA.

Abang Iskandar has now retired after serving more than two years and five months as PCA, as he has reached the judges' mandatory retirement age of 66 today.

In his parting words on his last day of service yesterday as PCA, Abang Iskandar said he was leaving his duties with gratitude and a "calm heart".

"I pray that the Malaysian Judiciary's legacy of upholding just...