KOTA KINABALU: The appointment of former Sabah and Sarawak chief judge Tan Sri Richard Malanjum as the new Chief Justice of Malaysia is an acknowledgment from the government towards people of Sabah to helm the top judiciary post.
Sabah Law and Native Affairs minister Datuk Aidi Mokhtar said Richard’s elevation was an honour for the state and was in line with his qualification.
“Tan Sri Richard Malanjum is qualified (as a Chief Justice), in fact, he should have assumed the role earlier.
“However, we understand that it is the prerogative of the government which has its own reason on who should be appointed,” he said after State Islamic Agency Raya open house here.
Present were Sabah mufti Datuk Bungsu Aziz Jaafar and State Islamic Religious Council (Muis) chairman Dr Hasbullah Taha.
Richard, 65, was sworn in as the new Chief Justice before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V at Istana Negara last night.
He is replacing Tun Md Raus Sharif after the latter submitted letter of resignation to vacate his position, which will come into effect on July 31.
Richard is also the first Bumiputera Sabah to be appointed as judge for the superior courts which are the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court.
In 2006, he was the first Sabahan to be elevated as Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak.