SABAH and Sarawak lawmakers are set to call a roundtable meeting to propose the most senior Federal Court Judge Richard Malanjum as Chief Justice of the Federal Court.

Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen and Sandakan MP Stephen Wong Tien Fatt said in a press conference today the push for the appointment of Malanjum was extended to all MPs, regardless of political affiliation.

Chong said since Malaysia’s formation, the country has never had chief justice or lord president from Sabah or Sarawak.

“The question that all of us must ask is: are judges from the Borneo states inferior to, or of lesser status than, the judges from West Malaysia?” Chong, who is also Sarawak DAP leader, said in the press conference.

“Can no judge from the Borneo states can be appointed Chief Justice, despite his seniority? Is there a glass ceiling in the judiciary?”

He said there was no prohibition in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 of a judge from the Borneo states becoming chief justice.

“In fact, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 provides for equal status of the two High Court jurisdictions, the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak, and the High Court in Malaya.

“Why then is Richard Malanjum by-passed with the unconstitutional extension of Md Raus Sharif,” he said adding that Malanjum was even more senior than Md Raus, who is supposed to retire on August 3, this year.

He said the roundtable meeting was about the personal appointment of Malanjum as chief justice and the equal status of Sabah and Sarawak with the Federation of Malaya in Malaysia.

“Malanjum was elevated as the chief judge of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak in 2006, while Md Raus was only appointed to the Federal Court in 2009,” he said, calling for Prime Minister Najib Razak to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint Malanjum instead.

Earlier this month, Najib decided to retain Md Raus Sharif as chief justice for a further three years. – July 24, 2017.