KUCHING, July 11: Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum today brushed off rumours that he has been nominated to replace the current chief justice, Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif, who tendered his resignation on June 7.
Reporters asked Malanjum about this rumour after he paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex here this afternoon.
“It is only ‘cerita dongeng’,” he replied, and quickly exited from Abang Johari’s office, seemingly to avoid further questioning by the newsmen.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to submit the names of the candidates for the top four posts in the judiciary to the Conference of Rulers for their approval today.
According to an online news portal, the candidates are Malanjum (for the post of Chief Justice), Chief Judge of the High Court of Malaya Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop (Court of Appeal president), Federal Court Judge Tan Sri Zaharah Ibrahim (Chief Judge of the High Court of Malaya) and Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Stephen Chung Hian Guan (Chief Judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak).
If the rumour is true, Malanjum would be the first Sabahan to be the country’s chief justice. He had previously served as a Federal Court and Court of Appeal judge. — DayakDaily
