KUALA LUMPUR, February 8 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Dubbed “the woman of firsts” in Malaysia, Siti Norma Yaakob, 65, was sworn in Tuesday, February 8, as Chief Judge of Malaya, one of the country's four top judicial posts.

According to the official news agency Bernama, Yaakob was sworn in at the administrative capital Putrajaya Tuesday, filling a post that had been vacant for three months after Haidar Mohamed Noor retired last November.

Yaakob is the first woman to be appointed to the third highest office in the country's judiciary and she has 40 years of experience in the judicial field, according to Bernama.

She made history as the first woman to have been appointed to the an executive position in the judiciary when she was appointed senior assistant registrar of the Federal Court in June 1963.

Yaakob was also the only woman High Court judge in the 1990s and went on to create history as the first woman to be appointed as Court of Appeal judge in 1994 and Federal Court judge in 2001.

Commenting on her historic appointment, the Malaysian legendary judge told Bernama she had mixed feelings.

“On one hand, it's a great responsibility, so there will be great expectations from me,” she said, adding that with Allah's guidance she would be able to carry out her duties.

She explained that the scope of her new position was more towards administration and this would have to be carried out in tandem with her duties as a judge.

“The service is very big, so I've got to go down to the ground to find out and identify whatever the problem and perhaps with good luck and cooperation from everybody, I will be able to rectify and put right whatever it is," she said, on measures she’ll take to enhance the judiciary.

On how she felt over being “the creator of so many firsts”, Yaakob said, “I can't help it because I was living in that age where no woman has been in the judiciary, so whatever I do, I always became the first all the time”.

Acknowledging her appointment was a heavy burden, the new Chief Judge hoped she would not be the first and the last though.

She further hoped that her achievements would attract more women to the judicial service, adding that she was pleased to see so many women judges in the country.

Chief Justice Tan Sri Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, meanwhile, congratulated Yaakob on her new appointment.

“I join the millions of Malaysian women especially in feeling proud and jubilation as not only the judiciary but also the country has created history following this appointment.

“For the first time a woman has been appointed to the third highest office in the judiciary,” he said, adding her vast experience would be her greatest asset in carrying out her duties.

He expressed confidence that all the High Court judges would extend to her their solid support.

From an Islamic point of view, “Imam Abu Haneefah permits women to be a judge in cases that her witness is accepted in, i.e., in cases other the criminal ones.

“Ibn Hazm and At-Tabaree, however, are of the opinion that the woman can be a judge in all cases,” according to Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi.

“Here, we should keep in mind that the permissibility of appointing woman as a judge does not necessitate it.