Tun Dato' Seri Zaki
bin Tun Azmi

Tun Dato’ Seri Zaki bin Tun Azmi was born on 12 September 1945 in Alor Setar, Kedah. He received his early education at Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Setar, followed by Anderson School, Ipoh, and English College, Johor Bahru. He later pursued his legal studies at Lincoln’s Inn, London, and was called to the Bar as a Barrister-at-Law in 1969.

Tun Zaki began his career in the Malaysian Judicial and Legal Service, where he served for 15 years. Starting as a Magistrate, he was later transferred to the Attorney General’s Chambers, holding various positions before eventually resigning to enter private legal practice. During his time in practice, he gained extensive experience and also served on the boards of several public listed companies, including PETRONAS, Malaysia Airports Berhad (now Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad), and SP Setia, contributing as a director and member of audit committees.

His return to public service came with his appointment as a Federal Court Judge. Shortly thereafter, he was elevated to the position of President of the Court of Appeal, the second highest judicial office in Malaysia. On 18 October 2008, he was appointed as the Chief Justice of Malaysia.

During his tenure, Tun Zaki was widely recognised for his impactful judicial reforms. He successfully addressed longstanding case backlogs within the Malaysian courts, achieving the disposal of over 90% of registered cases within nine months, an efficiency level regarded as among the best in common law jurisdictions. His leadership significantly improved the administration and perception of the judiciary.

He also became the first Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission upon its establishment on 16 February 2009, further strengthening institutional reforms and transparency within the judicial system.

Today, Tun Zaki continues to contribute to both the corporate and academic landscape. He serves as the Chairman of Pertama Digital Berhad and as the Chancellor of Multimedia University. His legacy remains defined by his commitment to efficiency, integrity, and reform, leaving a lasting impact on Malaysia’s legal, corporate, and educational institutions.