Arifin bin Zakaria (born 1 October 1950) is a Malaysian lawyer who served as the seventh Chief Justice of Malaysia,[1] serving from 12 September 2011, succeeding Zaki Azmi, until 31 March 2017.

Arifin Zakaria
7th Chief Justice of Malaysia
In office
12 September 2011 – 31 March 2017
Nominated byNajib Razak
Appointed byMizan Zainal Abidin
Preceded byZaki Azmi
Succeeded byMohamed Raus Sharif
8th Chief Judge of Malaya
In office
18 October 2008 – 11 September 2011
Nominated byAbdullah Ahmad Badawi
Appointed byMizan Zainal Abidin
Preceded byAlauddin Mohd Sheriff
Succeeded byZulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin
Group Chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad
In office
6 May 2021 – 31 May 2023
Preceded byZeti Akhtar Aziz
Succeeded byRaja Arshad Raja Uda
Personal details
Born
Arifin bin Zakaria

(1950-10-01) 1 October 1950 (age 74)
Pasir Mas, Kelantan, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
SpouseRobiah Abdul Kadir
Alma materUniversity of Sheffield
University College London

Education background

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After completing his secondary education at Sultan Ismail College [ms], Kota Bahru, he went to read law at the University of Sheffield. Upon graduation, he joined the Malaysian Judicial and Legal Service in September 1974. In 1979, he pursued the Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree at University College London (UCL) and the Bar Final Course at the Council of Legal Education. In June 1980, he was called to the English Bar, and in the same year he received his LL.M. from University College London.

Career

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Prior to his elevation to the High Court Bench of Malaysia, he had served in various capacities in the Government of Malaysia both in the Judicial Office, as well as in the Legal Department. Among the positions held by him were Magistrate, President of the Sessions Court, Senior Assistant Registrar of the High Court, Federal Counsel and Senior Federal Counsel, Legal Advisor to Ministry of Primary Industries, Legal Advisor to the Public Services Department, Legal Advisor to Malacca and Perak, Deputy Parliamentary Draftsman and Senior Federal Counsel of the Inland Revenue Department.

On 1 March 1992, he was appointed Judicial Commissioner of the High Court of Malaya and two years after, he was appointed a High Court Judge of Malaya.

In 2002, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal of Malaysia. In 2005, he was elevated to the Federal Court of Malaysia. He was appointed to the present post of the Chief Judge of the High Court of Malaya effective 18 October 2008. His elevation as the Chief Justice of Malaysia was on 12 September 2011.[2]

During his judicial service, he also had served many position like the Judge of the Special Court,[3] the Member of the Legal and Judicial Service Commission, the Committee Member of the Higher Court Method and the Lower Court Method, the Panel Member of the Sharia Appeal Court of Kelantan and the Member of the Qualification Board.[4]

Honours

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Honours of Malaysia

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Family

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He is married to Toh Puan Robiah Abdul Kadir and has three sons and two daughters.

References

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  1. ^ "Chief Justice of the Federal Court". Chief Registrar's Office, Federal Court of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria dilantik Ketua Hakim Negara". Berita Harian (in Malay). 5 September 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  3. ^ Article 182 (1), Federal Constitution.
  4. ^ Section 7 (b), Legal Profession Act 1976.
  5. ^ "The Yang di-Pertuan Agong's birthday honours list 2009". The Star. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  6. ^ "King awards 1,523 on birthday". Bernama. The Star. 3 June 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  7. ^ Lebih 70 bergelar Datuk esok
  8. ^ "Chief Justice leads Kelantan honours list". The Star. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Chief Justice heads Penang honours list of 1,138 people". The Star. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  10. ^ "DPCM 1988". pingat.perak.gov.my. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Sultan of Perak 82nd birthday honours list". The Star. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Perak Sultan honours 867". The Star. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  13. ^ "CJ Arifin Zakaria receives Sabah's highest award". Ruben Sario. The Star. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Chief Justice Heads Selangor Honours List". Bernama. Malaysian Times. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of Malaysia
2011–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of Malaya
2008–2011
Succeeded by