Hasnah Mohammed Hashim

Hasnah binti Mohammed Hashim (born 15 May 1959) is a Malaysian judge and legal professional who has served as the 13th Chief Judge of Malaya since November 2024.

Early life and education Hasnah binti Mohammed Hashim was born on 15 May 1959 in Kuantan, Pahang. She pursued her early education in Pahang before enrolling at the University of Malaya, where she earned her Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1983. She was later admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 2002.

Career Hasnah began her legal career in August 1983 as a legal officer in the Attorney General's Chambers. She later served as Senior Federal Counsel and legal adviser at several federal ministries, including the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Ministry of Works, and the former Ministry of Telecommunications and Posts. She was also appointed as the Assistant State Legal Adviser in Selangor, becoming the first woman to hold that post.

Notable case On 1 July 2025, Hasnah chaired a three-judge panel of the Federal Court that heard and ruled on a preliminary objection filed by former Prime Minister Najib Razak against the Attorney General's appeal in the judicial review case concerning the Addendum Decree. In delivering the panel’s unanimous decision, Hasnah announced that the objection was dismissed. The panel found that the legal questions raised by the Attorney General, including those related to the power of pardon under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, were new issues requiring further consideration by the court. The decision allows the substantive appeal to proceed in a scheduled two-day hearing.

Notable contributions Throughout her career, Hasnah has been involved in various aspects of judicial and legal service, including judicial administration, court management, and legal policy development. She was part of initiatives to modernise court operations and contributed to the implementation of digital systems in the judiciary beginning in 2019.

Her previous roles also included work in legislative drafting and involvement in privatisation processes during her tenure with several federal ministries. As of 2024, she serves as the Chair of the Judicial Training Committee under the Judicial Academy, overseeing programmes related to the continuing education and development of judicial officers.