Bar welcomes Malanjum’s regular consultative process initiative

PUTRAJAYA: Representatives of the Malaysian Bar, the Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) and the Sabah Law Society (SLS) yesterday paid a joint working visit to newly-appointed Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum.

Malaysian Bar president George Varughese said the onehour working meeting, held at the Palace of Justice, was at the request of the chief justice.

He said Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk David Wong Dak Wah, Federal Court chief registrar Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar and other registrars were present at the meeting.

He said AAS president Ranbir Singh Sangha and SLS president Brenndon Keith Soh, and a few of their committee members also attended the meeting.

Varughese said some issues were raised during the meeting, including on the postponement of cases.

He said Malanjum wanted to have a meeting with the Malaysian Bar every two months to sort out issues.

“The Malaysian Bar is very pleased with this regular consultative process initiated by Malanjum,” he said.

He said they asked whether the practice of the postponement of a court case only being allowed if it “involves death or near death” was still applicable.

“The chief justice said it will no longer be the policy of the courts. The chief justice further assured the bar that adjournments would be granted if there were proper and reasonable reasons for seeking the adjournments,” he said.

Malanjum, 65, received his instrument of appointment as the 15th chief justice from Yang diPertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V and was sworn in at Istana Negara on Wednesday night.