This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 11, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to submit the names of the candidates for the top four posts in the judiciary to the Conference of Rulers for their approval today.

According to sources, the candidates are Tan Sri Richard Malanjum (for the post of chief justice), Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop (president of the Court of Appeal), Tan Sri Zaharah Ibrahim (chief judge of the High Court of Malaya) and Datuk Stephen Chung Hian Guan (chief judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak).

Malanjum who is currently the chief judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, is tipped to take over the No 1 post, vacated by Tun Md Raus Sharif, who tendered his resignation on June 7. If appointed, he would be the country’s first chief justice from Sabah.

Malanjum had previously served as a Federal Court and Court of Appeal judge.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Maarop, who is currently the chief judge of the High Court of Malaya is expected to be choice for the role of president of the Court of Appeal. The former president, Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, like Raus, had also resigned on June 7.

Federal Court judge Zaharah is said to be choice to replace Ahmad Maarop as the chief judge of the High Court of Malaya, while Court of Appeal judge Chung is expected to be promoted as the chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak, in place of Malanjum.