Chong Siew Fai Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Yang Amat Arif Tan Sri Datuk Amar
Chong Siew Fai
Honorific-Suffix:PSM DA PNBS
Native Name:張守?
Birth Date:1935 1, df=yes
Birth Name:Chong Siew Fai
Death Place:Kuching, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia
Resting Place:Nirvana Memorial Park, Bau, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia
Residence:Kuching, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia
Relations:Chong Siew Chiang (brother)
Chong Chieng Jen (nephew)
Order:2nd
Office:Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak
Predecessor:Mohamad Jemuri Serjan
Successor:Steve Shim Lip Kiong
Term Start:16 June 1995
Term End:3 July 2000
Nominator:Mahathir Mohamad
Appointer:Ja'afar
Alma Mater:Lincoln's Inn
Citizenship:Malaysian
Profession:Barrister
Occupation:Teacher
Judge

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Chong Siew Fai (; born 4 January 1935)[1] was a Malaysian barrister and judge who served as the second Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak.

Early life and education

Chong was born in Sarikei in the then-British protectorate state of Raj of Sarawak to a couple who were owners of a Chinese drugstore. The oldest of seven siblings, he completed his high school education at St. Anthony's National Secondary School in his hometown and later also attended St. Joseph's National Secondary School in Kuching. After his father had fallen ill, Chong returned home to take over the helm at the family business after having only completed Form 3 (Year 10) of his high school. Nevertheless, he self-studied and eventually took teaching jobs at his alma mater, St. Anthony's, including teaching Form 4 and 5 (Years 11 and 12) morning classes between 1952 and 1962.

On 27 September 1962, Chong, aged 27, used his savings from his teaching days to pay for his ship ticket to London, United Kingdom to begin his studies after being accepted into Lincoln's Inn.[2] Working tirelessly, he finished his studies in 18 months compared to the usual three years.[3] Upon completion of his studies and admission to the English Bar in February 1965, Chong would return home to practice and eventually founded the law firm "Chong Brothers Advocates" in 1968 alongside his younger brother, Chong Siew Chiang.

Career

Advocates' Association of Sarawak

In May 1965, he was called to the Advocates' Association of Sarawak (Sarawak Bar) and practised law at "Messrs. Yong & Co." until December 1967. After around seven years since the foundation of his legal firm, Chong was elected President of the Advocates' Association of Sarawak. He held this position between 1975 and 1979. During this time, he was appointed Commissioner for Oaths (August 1978) and later Notary public (October 1978).

Judicial

Immediately after his tenure ended, Chong was appointed a judge of the High Court of Malaysia. For the following 14 years, he would serve in this capacity at various cities around the country where the High Courts were found, including Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Sibu. In 1994, Chong was elevated to serve in the Federal Court of Malaysia, the apex court in Malaysia. Shortly after his promotion, Chong was appointed as the new Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak in 1995, thus ascending to the nation's fourth highest judicial office after the Chief Justice of Malaysia, President of the Court of Appeal of Malaysia and Chief Judge of Malaya. Simultaneously, he was also appointed a judge of the Special Court of Malaysia. He served in this office between June 1995 and July 2000 before retiring.

Other positions

Honours

Personal life

Chong was a Malaysian Chinese of Hakka descent. He was married to Puan Sri Datin Amar Rosalind T'en Yaw Hee on 2 October 1968, together, they have one son and three daughters. Chong's nephew and son of Chong Siew Chiang, Chong Chieng Jen, is the current Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs of Malaysia and Member of Parliament (MP) for Stampin.[5]

Death

Chong died on 23 January 2006 at his home in Kuching having suffered from colon cancer for the previous 18 months.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 10 August 2019. Former Chief Justice. 2019. judiciary.kehakiman.gov.my.
  2. Web site: 27 April 2011. 10 August 2019. My Father, the Judge (Stories from the East). Yuh Tyng. Chong.
  3. Web site: 10 August 2019. Chong. REMEMBERING THE LATE TAN SRI DATUK AMAR CHONG SIEW FAI (FORMER CHIEF JUDGE OF SABAH AND SARAWAK). Yuh Tyng. kehakiman.gov.my.
  4. Web site: SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT. Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). 9 August 2019. 19 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190719195551/http://www.istiadat.gov.my/index.php/component/semakanlantikanskp. dead.
  5. Web site: 'CJ's tenure extension proof of discrimination against Sabah, Sarawak'. 10 August 2019. 26 July 2017. Nur Farzana. Md. Yusof.
  6. https://www.berjaya.com/berjaya-assets/assets/images/annual-reports/bjassets03.pdf
  7. Web site: Former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak dies. Bernama. 10 August 2019. Malaysian Bar. 23 January 2006.