Ex-Chief Justice’s accomplishments worthy of emulation — Advocates bodies

MIRI: Tan Sri Richard Malanjum’s impressive career path spanned the complete legal spectrum – from being a private practitioner to holding the highest office in the Malaysian judiciary.

The Sabahan, who will turn 67 this Oct 13, was sworn-in as the new Malaysian Chief Justice on July 11 last year.

He clocked out for good on Friday afternoon.

In a joint statement yesterday, Sabah Law Society president Brenndon Keith Soh and Advocates Association of Sarawak president Ranbir Singh Sangha expressed their hope that Malanjum’s contributions and accomplishments would inspire the next generation of high achievers in the legal fraternity.

“More importantly, his (Malanjum’s) vision for reform saw the judiciary embracing technology, practising collective decisionmaking and promoting transparency in the judicial appointment process by engaging and consulting with the three Bars of Malaysia,” said the statement.

It is not immediately known who would replace Malanjum.

In his remarks to reporters when met after launching the Malaysia Autoshow 2019 in Serdang on Thursday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed that he already had a replacement candidate, but would not disclose the identity just as yet.

Malanjum is credited for having made much improvement and transformation within the judiciary.

The major steps taken included tackling corruption by declaring judges’ assets, not accepting gifts for himself, and setting up a collegiate for self-governance comprising a collective leadership and collective decision-making process by the top four judges – namely the Chief Justice, the Court of Appeal president and the two chief judges of Malaya, and Sabah and Sarawak.