Post should not be exclusive to West M'sians: Ex-AG
Published on: Friday, July 28, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: The idea that only a West Malaysian can hold the Chief Justice post no longer applies, former State Attorney General Tan Sri Herman Luping (pic) said.Throwing his support for Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum to hold the highest post in the judiciary, he said laws of East and West Malaysia are close to parity and, therefore, the Chief Justice who oversees their application should not be limited to a West Malaysian."In my opinion, Malanjum is truly the right person. He will bring Sabah and Sarawak closer to unity with Malaysia overall," he said, in a statement. He noted that Malanjum has been holding his current position for more than 20 years.
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"His decisions for the Supreme Court over the years have shown his fine legal mind and character," Luping said.The Supreme Court of Malaysia has five judges sitting, four of them from West Malaysia and only one from East Malaysia."He was called to the bar at the same time as myself in 1979 and I knew that he would become someone of substance. He was very vocal in court and people would come to watch him espouse his views on the laws. "We found it very refreshing to hear a Sabahan arguing in court so eloquently for Sabah and Sarawak's rights," he recalled.
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He also said that Malanjum has written minority judgements that show his independence of mind, many of these on strengthening Sabah and Sarawak's position. "He was very forceful and clear in his position on these minority decisions and it was obvious that his interpretation was good not just for Sabah and Sarawak but for all of Malaysia.
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