Zaharah Ibrahim

Tan Sri Datin Paduka Zaharah binti Ibrahim[1] was the eleventh Chief Judge of Malaya. She also served as chairperson of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Malaysian Infrastructure Limited).[2]

Yang Amat Arif Tan Sri Datin Paduka Zaharah Ibrahim PSM PJN DPMS KMN
11th Chief Judge of Malaya
In office 11 July 2018 – 16 May 2019
Nominated by	Mahathir Mohamad
Appointed by	Muhammad V
Preceded by	Ahmad Maarop
Succeeded by	Azahar Mohamed
Chairperson of Prasarana Malaysia
In office 11 November 2019 – 12 May 2020
Minister	Lim Guan Eng Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz
Preceded by	Khalid Abu Bakar
Succeeded by	Tajuddin Abdul Rahman
Personal details
Born	Zaharah binti Ibrahim 17 November 1952 Johor Bahru, Johor, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
Citizenship	Malaysian
Nationality	Malaysia
Spouse(s)	Mohd Arsad Sehan
Alma mater	University of Malaya
Occupation	Business executive
Profession	Lawyer

Education

Ibrahim had her early education at Bandar Pontian National School and secondary education at the premier all-girl boarding school Tun Fatimah School (STF). She then graduated from University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LL.B.) in 1977.

Career

Ibrahim began her career in the legal field on 26 April 1977 as a law officer. She was later appointed into the Judicial and Legal Service and held the post of Magistrate at Alor Gajah, Jasin, and Merlimau, all in Malacca.

Between 1981 and 2004 she assumed various positions in the Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs. Her last position in the service was as the Parliamentary Draftsman between 1996 and 2004.

On 1 August 2004, she was appointed as a Judicial Commissioner of the High Court of Malaya and served in the Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam High Court. On July 28, 2006, she was confirmed as a High Court Judge.

On 14 April 2010, she was elevated as Court of Appeal judge.

On 16 February 2015, she was appointed as Federal Court judge.

On 11 July 2018, Ibrahim was appointed to the post of Chief Judge of The High Court of Malaya by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. She replaced Ahmad Maarop who was promoted as President of the Court of Appeal of Malaysia. However, she was only sworn-in at the Palace of Justice when she returned to Malaysia on 17 July 2018, hence becoming only the second woman to assume the third highest judicial office of the country.[3][4]

On 11 November 2019, Ibrahim was appointed as chairperson of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Malaysian Infrastructure Limited).[5] She succeeds former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Khalid Abu Bakar, who resigned from office following the defeat of the National Front (BN) in the 14th Malaysian general election.[6][7] In mid-May 2020, Ibrahim was replaced by Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, United Malays National Organisation's (UMNO's) Member of Parliament (MP) for Pasir Salak, following the 2020 Malaysian constitutional crisis which saw the Alliance of Hope (PH) governing coalition being ousted from power.[8][9]

Honours

•  Malaysia :
  • Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1992)[10]
  • Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) - Datuk (2004)[10]
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) - Tan Sri (2016)[10][11]
•  Selangor :
  • Companion of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SMS)
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) - Datin Paduka (1997)[10]

References

1. "Chief Judge of The High Court of Malaya". Judiciary of Malaysia. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
2. "Former chief judge Zaharah Ibrahim appointed Prasarana chairman". Malay Mail. Bernama. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
3. Anbalagan, V. (17 July 2018). "Zaharah Ibrahim takes oath as chief judge of Malaya". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
4. Lim, Ida (17 July 2018). "Zaharah is second woman to be Chief Judge of Malaya". Malay Mail. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
5. "Bekas Hakim Besar Malaya dilantik Pengerusi Kumpulan Prasarana". Bernama (in Malay). Sinar Harian. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
6. "Former IGP Khalid quits Prasarana". The Star (Malaysia). 26 July 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
7. "Khalid resigns as Prasarana group chairman". New Straits Times. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
8. "Mahdzir appointed to TNB, Tajuddin to Prasarana". Malaysiakini. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
9. Zain, Haspaizi (8 May 2020). "Sah Mahdzir terajui TNB, Tajuddin ketuai Prasarana" (in Malay). Malaysiakini. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
10. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
11. "1,546 honoured on King's birthday". Bernama. The Star. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2018.