Who Is Richard Malanjum

Tan Sri Richard Malanjum was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Malaysia effective today. Malanjum, 65, received his letter of appointment from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

Malanjum, who is former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, replacing Tun Md Raus Sharif who will resign as the Chief Justice, effective July 31.

Born in Oct 1952 in Tuaran, Sabah, Malanjum had his early education there before completing his secondary education in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

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.

Malanjum is the first native of Sabah to have been appointed as the High Court Judge, Court of Appeal Judge and the Federal Court Judge.

In 2006, for the first time since the formation of Malaysia, he became the first Sabahan appointed as Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak. Prior to that, the post was held by a British, one from Peninsular Malaysia and several Sarawakians.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Sultan Muhammad V presented the letters of appointment to the new Court of Appeal president, Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Datuk David Wong Dak Wah.