KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 -- Chief Judge of Malaya (CJM) Tan Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, who is now temporarily performing the Chief Justice's duties until a new one is appointed, will herself retire by mid-November this year.

Malaysia's judiciary has four top judges:

The CJ post became vacant when Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat's six-year tenure ended on July 1, while the second-highest post PCA fell vacant when Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim's tenure of more than two years and five months ended on July 2.

Both Tengku Maimun and Abang Iskandar had retired as they had reached the mandatory retirement age for judges of 66 on July 2 (yesterday) and July 3 (today) respectively, and had not been offered a six-month extension.

Hasnah herself t...