33rd IIUM Convocation Programme Book

14 33rd IIUM Convocation Ceremony Majlis Konvokesyen IIUM ke-33 HONORABLE TUN ARIFIN BIN ZAKARIA FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF MALAYSIA The Rt. Hon. Tun Arifin Bin Zakaria was born on 1st October 1950. He completed his early education at the Sultan Ibrahim Primary and Secondary School, and continued his secondary education at the Sultan Ismail College, both in Kelantan. He read law at the University of Sheffield in UK, graduating with honours in 1974.Upon graduation, he joined the Judicial and Legal Service of Malaysia in September 1974. He was assigned to serve as Federal counsel in the Advisory Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers. Later he served as a magistrate, Sessions Court judge and senior assistant registrar. In 1979, Tun pursued Master of Laws course at University College, London and the Bar Final Course at Council of Legal Education. He was called to the English Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1979 and completed his master’s degree the same year. Back in Malaysia, Tun Arifin served as assistant parliamentary draftsman. From 1981 to 1983, he served as Melaka state legal adviser. Then in 1983 to 1984 he served as legal adviser Public Service Department and was later promoted to state legal adviser of Perak. He then served as deputy parliamentary draftsman and later as senior federal counsel for the Inland Revenue Department. On 1st March 1992, Tun Arifin was appointed as the Judicial Commissioner of the High Court of Malaya and, two years later, he was appointed as a High Court Judge of Malaya. In 2002, Tun Arifin was elevated to the Court of Appeal. In 2005, he was further elevated to the Federal Court. On 18th October 2008, Tun Arifin was made Chief Judge of Malaya. On 12th September 2011, Tun Arifin was appointed to be the Chief Justice of Malaysia in which he magnificently served until 31st March 2017. As Chief Justice, he continued to improve the efficiency of the judiciary. He promoted the use of relevant technology in the courts. Cases from Sabah and Sarawak awaiting a response from the Court of Appeal were expedited with the introduction of video conferencing and court rooms were upgraded with the Court Recording and Transcription (CRT) facility. The CRT, which is part of the e-Court system, was introduced in 2009 to expedite hearings in court. It also included e-filing component to enable electronic filing. In 2014 the e-Court Finance System was established, enabling the public to make payments online or through kiosks at their convenience. Additionally, the judiciary’s website was updated to provide better excess to public. New Commercial Courts, first formed in Kuala Lumpur when Tun Arifin was Chief Judge of Malaya, saw commercial cases being disposed within nine months from the date of filing. Tun Arifin was also responsible in introducing a number of specialist courts. In 2011, Tun Arifin oversaw the setting up of 14 Corruption Courts to expedite cases. In 2012, he opened the dedicated Environmental Court as part of the Sessions and Magistrates Courts. In 2013, Tun Arifin set up another specialised court, the Construction Court, in Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam. In 2014, he oversaw the establishment of the Coroner’s Court. With the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in April 2015, the judiciary established the Anti-Profiteering Court in Kuala Lumpur. The other notable contribution by Tun Arifin is the promotion of the use of mediation in the courts in Malaysia in the disposal of cases. Tun Arifin headed the committee drafting the Rules of Court 2012, which combined the Rules of Court for the High Court and Subordinate Courts. The unification of the Rules marked a fundamental development in the continuing process of reform of practice and procedure in court, simplifying and streamlining the prevailing civil procedure. Tun Arifin was also active in improving the judiciary’s image through public outreach. In 2011, the judiciary began its Court Tour Programme to educate students and also published brochures related to court procedures for the public. The outreach programme also encouraged the support of charitable causes, especially for poor and indigenous peoples. The judiciary further implemented the new Judicial Assistant and Judicial Clerkship programme to attract top law graduates to the judicial service.