Malaysia’s Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has warned that the country is facing a serious shortage of judges, placing growing strain on the justice system amid a sharp rise in court cases.
Speaking at the Opening of the Legal Year 2026 on Monday (Jan 12), Wan Ahmad Farid said the number of cases registered in Malaysian courts has increased by about 60 per cent over the past few years, describing the trend as structural rather than temporary.
Criminal case registrations rose from 1.52 million cases in 2021 to 2.49 million cases as of November 2025, representing a 63.37 per cent increase. Civil cases also saw a significant rise, increasing from 303,335 to 483,933 cases during the same period, a growth of nearly 60 per cent.
While noting that a more litigious society reflects public confidence in the judiciary, Wan Ahmad Farid cautioned that the growing volume and complexity of cases far exceed the current judicial capacity. Malaysia currently has 482 judges nationwide.
“The current shortfall in judicial manpower places immense and growing pressure on the justice system,” he said, warning that there are limits to how much additional workload judges can absorb without affecting their well-being and the quality of judicial decisions.
Based on Malaysia’s population of 36 million, the country has one superior court judge for approximately 239,852 people. This compares unfavourably with Australia, which has one judge for every 124,000 people, and Canada, which has one judge for every 47,000 people.
Wan Ahmad Farid said the shortage is particularly acute at the Sessions Court and Magistrates’ Court levels, where limited established posts have led to heavy workloads, delays and uneven distribution of cases across states and districts.
He called on the government to urgently increase the number of judicial officers, especially in lower courts. For superior courts, he said the Judicial Appointments Commission is reviewing proposals for new appointments and possible constitutional amendments if needed.
Separately, Wan Ahmad Farid welcomed the government’s decision to raise judges’ salaries by up to 30 per cent starting Jan 1, 2026, describing it as a move that would strengthen judicial independence and welfare. However, he stressed that higher pay must come with greater responsibility.
“A fairly compensated judiciary serves as an important safeguard, helping to shield judges from undue influence and ensuring they can perform their duties without financial concern,” he said.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had announced the salary increase during Budget 2026, marking the first adjustment to judges’ pay since 2015.
