Ex-CJ Richard Malanjum admitted as advocate, solicitor

Former Chief Justice Richard Malanjum, 73, has been admitted and enrolled as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya, according to a recent announcement. He is the first judge from Borneo to hold the prestigious position, serving as chief justice of Malaysia for nine months until April 12, 2019. Prior to his tenure at the Federal Court, Malanjum was the chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, and he began his legal career with the Sabah Attorney-General's Chambers.

The motion for Malanjum's admission was moved by lawyer Nicholas Kow, who praised the former chief justice for possessing both brain and heart. Kow noted that the brain is crucial in arguing facts and law, while the heart is essential for passion and compassion in the practice of law. Senior federal counsel Al-Saifi Hashim also praised Malanjum, highlighting his role in driving the computerization of courts in Sabah and Sarawak and pioneering the mobile court program.

The Bar Council's treasurer, Peter-Douglas Ling, recognized Malanjum for his efforts in establishing a specialized environmental court and introducing the e-review system, which allowed lawyers to conduct case management from anywhere. Malanjum was also credited with introducing the paperless e-Appellate/e-Bicara system and the Malaysian Judgments Portal, which allows lawyers to access and learn about recent judgments free of charge.