TAN SRI RICHARD MALANJUM IS NEW CHIEF JUSTICE OF MALAYSIA
Sworn in before Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday
TAN Sri Richard Malanjum was sworn in as the new chief justice effective yesterday. Malanjum, 65, received his letter of appointment from Yang di Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V in a ceremony at Bilik Singgahsana Kecil, Istana Negara here.
Present were Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and Federal Court Chief Registrar Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar.
Malanjum, who is former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, replaces Tun Md Raus Sharif, whose resignation as chief justice takes effect on July 31.
He is the first person from the Borneo states to be appointed to the top post in the judiciary.
Born on Oct 13, 1952, in Tuaran, Sabah, Malanjum received his early education at the Bukit Hill School in Putatan and Sacred Heart Primary School in Kota Kinabalu before completing his secondary education at La Salle Secondary School in Kota Kinabalu.
The Kadazandusun lad began his career as a clerk at the Education Department, Agriculture Department, Television and Radio Department, and as a welfare officer at the state Welfare Department.
In July 1972, he graduated from Mara Institute of Technology in Shah Alam, Selangor (now known as Universiti Teknologi Mara), as an external student at the University of London and obtained a Bachelor of Laws in 1975.
Upon graduation, he was appointed as an administrative officer in the Sabah Chief Minister ’s Department, but was assigned as a deputy public prosecutor in the Sabah Attorney-General’s Chambers.
In 1976, Malanjum furthered his studies in London and completed his Bar-at-Law studies in the same year.
He was admitted to the English Bar of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn in London and upon returning, he continued his service as a deputy public prosecutor and senior legal counsel in the Sabah Attorney-General’s Chambers.
He was admitted as a solicitor to the Malaysian Bar, Sabah, in 1977, and was admitted to the Australian Capitol Territory Bar in 1991.
In 1981, he resigned and joined a private legal firm in Kota Kinabalu until 1992. He was appointed as a judicial commissioner in 1992.
In 1993, he was elevated to a High Court judge in Kuching.
He was placed in the High Court of Miri and Sandakan in 1994 and 1996, and he was transferred back to the Kuching High Court in 2002.
In 2002, he was appointed as judge of the Court of Appeal and in 2005, he was appointed as Federal Court judge.
He is the first Sabah native to be appointed as a High Court judge, judge of the Court of Appeal as well as the judge of the Federal Court.
At 52, he was the youngest Federal Court judge appointed to the post. On July 26, 2006, he was appointed as chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak.
Married to Puan Sri Marina Tiu, the couple have three children: Jessica Eleanor, Edgar Richard and Carl Barnabas.