Gabungan Sabah joins chorus of support for Malanjum as next Chief Justice of Malaysia

KOTA KINABALU -The Sabah Opposition front, Gabungan Sabah (United Sabah Alliance) has joined the multitudes in supporting the current Chief Justice of Borneo, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, to be the next Chief Judge of Malaysia.

Gabungan Sabah`s chairman, Datuk Haji Mohammad Noor Haji Mansoor,expressed his support in a statement issued yesterday.

“It is time that someone from Malaysia Borneo be appointed to the top post in Malaysian Judiciary,” said Datuk Mohammad Noor.

If meritocracy is used as a basis for appointing the next Chief Justice (of Malaysia), and it should, then Tan Sri Richard is more than qualified. Having served more than ten years in the current position as Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Malanjum has the necessary experience. This valuable experience, which is essential in making just and wise decisions, coupled with his exemplary qualities makes him the most fitting person for the post.

Gabungan Sabah has been calling on the Federal government to be fair to the Borneon states of Sabah and Sarawak in accordance with the Malaysian Agreement 1963. As equal partners to Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak should be entitled to equity in all aspect and certainly not limited to just fair distribution of wealth. Qualified Sabahans and Sarawakians should also be considered to helm top jobs in the civil service in Putrajaya.

"As pointed out by retired Federal Court Judge Gopal Sri Ram, since Ismail Khan and Lee Hun Hoe from Malaya had served as the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak in the past, maybe it is about time that someone from the Borneo states be appointed as the Chief Justice of Malaysia."

For Gabungan Sabah, such an appointment will mean a recognition of sorts of the nation building role of Borneo's native in the country, concluded Datuk Mohammad Noor.