I learnt a lot from Malanjum, says Zaki

KUALA LUMPUR: Former chief justice Tun Zaki Azmi said he learnt a lot from Tan Sri Richard Malanjum when he was in office eight years ago.

He also admitted that he had “copied” several approaches introduced by Malanjum while he served as the chief justice for Sabah and Sarawak.

“I am not embarrassed to say that I had learnt a lot from him when I was chief justice.

“I even brought several approaches that he had implemented in Sabah and Sarawak to be introduced in the peninsula.

“It was the right decision to appoint him as chief justice as he has shown leadership,” he said yesterday.

Zaki, who served as chief justice from 2008 to 2011, said Malanjum had the ability to make good judgments and worked hard to preserve and upgrade the role and status at courts, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

“We wrote several landmark judgments together. One of them was the S. Shamala case, where she fled to Australia with her two children due to a dispute with her converted husband.

“Many criticised his landmark decision, but it was right,” said Zaki, adding that Malanjum had integrity and the ability to manage the courts.

He said as a person, Malanjum was a humble and hardworking judge.

“I personally like working with him and am happy that he was appointed chief justice.”

Zaki said the appointment of chief justice should not be based on race and religion, but based on one’s ability.

Malanjum was appointed to the job after former chief justice Tun Md Raus Sharif submitted his letter of resignation, which will come into effect at the end of the month.

Malanjum received his letter of appointment from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V at a ceremony at Istana Negara on Wednesday.