I support the proposal by the Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian for the appointment of Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak for over a decade since July 2006, as the next Chief Justice.

This will create history as Malanjum will be the first Malaysian from Sabah/Sarawak to head the Malaysian judiciary in half a century.

The present Chief Justice, Tun Arifin Zakaria will end his tenure in March next year after it was extended from October 1 this year.

Malanjum holds the distinction as the longest-serving judge, whether of High Court, Court of Appeal or Federal Court in the country.

I agree with Baru Bian that aside from the fact that Malanjum has the seniority by virtue of his 10-year stint as Chief Judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, he is eminently qualified to be the Chief Justice because of his sound and reasoned judgments, as well as his vision to bring about much-needed reform to the judiciary.

(Media Conference Statement after the Opening of Johore State DAP Convention in Kulai on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 12 noon)