KUCHING, June 13: The name of Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum has been put forward as the right candidate to succeed Tun Md Raus Sharif as Malaysia’s Chief Justice (CJ).
Urging the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government to recommend Richard, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said this is consistent with the stand by the PH leaders both from Sabah and Sarawak even before the 14th general elections.
The appointment of the CJ is governed by Article 122B of the Constitution of Malaysia whereby the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) appoints the CJ on the advice of the Prime Minister of Malaysia after consulting the Conference of Rulers.
“With the resignation of Raus effective on July 31, I strongly recommend and propose Richard as he is currently the most senior Federal Court judge with much judicial experience, in fact, even more senior than the present Raus.
“Such an appointment is not without merit as Malanjum has brought in a lot of improvements and good initiatives including the initiation of the computerisation of the courts in Sabah and Sarawak in 2006, right after his appointment as the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak,” Dr Yii said in a statement today.
The moved has benefited many people including members of the judiciary, the bar, parties in trials as well as the public.
Dr Yii said Richard’s close involvement in the development and implementation of the project led to the creation of the Integrated Court Solution (ICS), which won the United Nations World Summit Award 2009 in the ‘E-Government and Institutions Category’.
“We are confident that Richard will carry out the duties of his office without fear or favour and will uphold the principles of justice unconditionally. There is no question about his capability to head the Malaysian judiciary,” Dr Yii added.
He also noted that for the past 55 years since the formation of Malaysia, no Sarawakian or Sabahan judge had held the position of CJ.
Dr Yii added that now that there are different and growing constitutional arguments regarding Sarawak’s rights under the MA63, he believe the time is ripe for an appointment of a CJ from the Borneon states.
On June 11, the Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) called for the immediate resignation of the nation’s two top judges.
AAS president Ranbir Singh Sangha said Raus and Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Zulkifli Ahmad Makinudin have reached the constitutional mandatory retirement age of 66 years and six months, last year. — DayakDaily
