KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 18): Former chief justice Tun Richard Malanjum has returned to legal practice after being appointed as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya on Tuesday.

His admission was before High Court judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin, with representatives from the Malaysian Bar, the KL Bar and the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Malanjum, 73, created Malaysian history for being the first CJ from Sabah and Sarawak. Prior to his ascension to the very top, he was the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak (CJSS).

He was appointed the 14th CJ by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during Mahathir’s second stint as prime minister. Malanjum succeeded Tun Md Raus Sharif from July 11, 2018, to April 12, 2019. Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat succeeded Malanjum after that.

Malanjum’s motion for admission was moved by lawyer Nicholas Kow, who later robed the former CJ.

During his time as CJSS, Malanjum had formed mobile courts so that people from the rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak could access justice.

The move was also later expanded to Peninsular Malaysia.

Malanjum was appointed a judicial commissioner in 1992 and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2002. He later ascended to the Federal Court in June 2005 and became the first judge from Sabah to be CJSS in 2006.

Senior federal counsel Muhammad Al Saifi Hashim, who is the Deputy Head I of the Civil Division at the Attorney General’s Chambers, commended Malanjum for the digitalisation of the courts before the Covid-19 era.

“He drove the computerisation of the courts in Sabah and Sarawak and pioneered the mobile court programme to bring the administration of justice to remote communities, which otherwise took people many hours and days to access due to the difficult road conditions.

“His return to legal practice is another chapter in a journey that has already shaped the courts,” Muhammad Al Saifi said.

Also present was Malaysian Bar treasurer Peter-Douglas Ling while the KL Bar was represented by D Nimalan.