Richard Malanjum

Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Richard Malanjum (born 13 October 1952)[1] is a Malaysian jurist and lawyer who served as the ninth Chief Justice of Malaysia and fourth Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak. Before joining the judicial service, he was a practising lawyer and was the president of the Sabah Law Association, the bar association for the state of Sabah.[2]

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Richard Malanjum PSM SPDK SPSK SSAP SIMP
9th Chief Justice of Malaysia
In office 11 July 2018 – 12 April 2019
Nominated by	Mahathir Mohamad
Appointed by	Muhammad V
Preceded by	Mohamed Raus Sharif
Succeeded by	Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat
4th Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak
In office 26 July 2006 – 11 July 2018
Nominated by	Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Appointed by	Sirajuddin
Preceded by	Steve Shim Lip Kiong
Succeeded by	David Wong Dak Wah
Personal details
Born	Richard Malanjum 13 October 1952 Tuaran, Crown Colony of North Borneo (now Sabah, Malaysia)
Citizenship	Malaysian
Nationality	Malaysia
Children	3
Alma mater	MARA University of Technology University of London (LL.B.) Gray's Inn
Occupation	Jurist
Profession	Lawyer

Education

He had his early education in Tuaran before completing his secondary education at La Salle Secondary School, Kota Kinabalu.

In 1972, he graduated from the MARA Institute of Technology (now Universiti Teknologi MARA) in Shah Alam, Selangor as an external student at the University of London and obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) in 1975. He then furthered his studies in London and managed to complete his Bar-at-Law study the following year.[3]

Career

He started his career as a clerk at the Education Department, Department of Agriculture, Television and Radio Department before moving on as a Welfare Officer at the State Welfare Department.

Having obtained a law degree, Malanjum served at the Sabah Chief Minister's Department and was assigned as Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Sabah State Attorney-General's Chambers.

He was also admitted to the English Bar of the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn in London.

Upon his return to Malaysia, Malanjum continued his service as deputy public prosecutor and senior legal counsel at the Sabah State Attorney-General's Chambers.

In 1977, he was a solicitor with the Malaysian Bar, Sabah and was admitted to the Australian Capital Territory Bar in 1991.

In 1981, Malanjum resigned from his post at the Sabah State Attorney-General's Chambers and joined a legal firm in Kota Kinabalu where he became Sabah Law Association president.

Later, he was appointed as judicial commissioner in early 1992.

In 2006, for the first time since the formation of Malaysia, he became the first Sabahan elevated as Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, the fourth most senior judicial office in Malaysia.[4] Prior to that, the post was held by a British, one from Peninsular Malaysia and several Sarawakians.[3]

He was sworn-in as the ninth Chief Justice of Malaysia, the highest judicial officer in Malaysia on 11 July 2018,[5][6] becoming the first person from the Borneo states of Malaysia to ascend to the office.[7] He retired as Chief Justice on 13 April 2019 having reached the mandatory retirement age.[8]

Landmark Court Cases

Called a “fearless and staunch defender of the integrity of the Federal Constitution and fundamental liberties” by Retired Court of Appeal judge Datuk Hishamudin Yunus for his dissenting judgements whilst in Federal Court, Richard was claimed to have made 'brave' judgements in the controversial cases of Lina Joy (2007) in which he had adjudge the insistence by the National Registration Department for a certificate of apostasy from the Federal Territory Syariah Court was not only unlawful but also unreasonable, The Herald/Allah Case (2014) “According to Justice Richard Malanjum, there were merits in the applicant's contention that the Minister's decision contravened Article 11(1) and (3) of the Federal Constitution, and therefore leave to appeal to the Federal Court ought to be granted (whereas in this case leave to appeal to the Federal Court was refused by the Federal Court).”Richard had also made separate judgements in other cases including Public Prosecutor vs Koh Wah Kuan (2007), Sivarasa Rasiah vs Badan Peguam Malaysia (2010), M. Indira Gandhi vs Pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Perak and others (2018) and Alma Nudo Atenza v Public Prosecutor (The double presumption case) (2019)[9]

Honours

•  Malaysia :
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) - Tan Sri (2007)[10]
•  Kelantan :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Loyalty to the Crown of Kelantan (SPSK) - Dato' (2006)[11]
•  Pahang :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) - Dato' (2004)
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) - Dato' Sri (2006)[12]
•  Sabah :
  • Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) - Datuk (1998)
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) - Datuk Seri Panglima (2006)[13]

References

1. "Chief Justice of Malaysia". Judiciary of Malaysia. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
2. "Malanjum the First Kadazandusun to be Chief Judge". Bernama. 26 July 2006. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
3. "Richard Malanjum new Chief Justice". Bernama. Borneo Post. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
4. "Operation of the court". Judiciary of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
5. "Richard Malanjum is new Chief Justice". Bernama. New Straits Times. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
6. "Richard Malanjum Ketua Hakim Negara baharu". Bernama (in Malay). Harian Metro. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
7. "Richard Malanjum, the first Chief Justice from the Borneo states". Bernama. New Straits Times. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
8. Reporter, Desk (13 April 2019). "Chief Justice Richard Malanjum Retires". The Star. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
9. Lim, Ida (21 May 2019). "Richard Malanjum in SIx Landmark Court Cases". Malay Mail. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
10. "Chief Sec Sidek heads King's honours list". The Star. 2 June 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
11. "Abdullah heads honours list". The Star. 30 March 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
12. "PM ketuai penerima darjah Pahang" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 24 October 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
13. "Ex-sportsman among new Sabah Datuks". Ruben Sario. The Star. 16 September 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2018.