New CJ to usher new approaches in judiciary

The panel of judges for cases heard in the Federal Court will be chosen via a voting process, said newly minted Chief Justice Richard Malanjum.

This is to prevent allegations and negative elements in case divisions and the choosing of panels, in cases that are of constitutional importance and interest to the public, as well as appeal cases.

The panel of judges was previously chosen by the chief justice.

"I will take several new approaches in the judiciary," Justice Malanjum said in his maiden speech, after his swearing-in last night.

He was speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Court of Appeal president and the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya today.

According to him, cases of constitutional importance will be heard by a panel of nine judges, as opposed to five, before this.

Appeal cases originating from Sabah and Sarawak, which are brought to the Court of Appeal or the Federal Court in the peninsula, will be heard by a panel comprising at least one judge from the Borneo states, he added.

The new approaches encompass three aspects, said Justice Malanjum.

"The first one involves the management of the judiciary. The concept of collective leadership, where the top four judges are given the power and equal responsibility in policy-related matters... This is more effective in empowering and dividing the responsibility between the four senior judges."

The other two aspects involve the choosing of the panel of judges via a voting process and the improvement of internal management with the introduction of a "time sheet" system, like the one which was practised in Sabah and Sarawak two years ago. -Mkini