Zaharah Ibrahim Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Yang Amat Arif Tan Sri Datin Paduka
Zaharah Ibrahim
Honorific-Suffix:PSM PJN DPMS KMN
Office:11th Chief Judge of Malaya
Appointer:Muhammad V
Term Start:11 July 2018
Term End:16 May 2019
Predecessor:Ahmad Maarop
Successor:Azahar Mohamed
Birth Name:Zaharah binti Ibrahim
Birth Date:1952 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Johor Bahru, Johor, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
Spouse:Mohd Arsad Sehan
Alma Mater:University of Malaya
Citizenship:Malaysian
Office2:Chairperson of Prasarana Malaysia
Predecessor2:Khalid Abu Bakar
Successor2:Tajuddin Abdul Rahman
Term End2:12 May 2020
Term Start2:11 November 2019
Minister2:Lim Guan Eng
Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz
Occupation:Business executive
Profession:Lawyer

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]

Education

Zaharah had her early education at 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

Zaharah 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, she 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, she 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

References

  1. Web site: Chief Judge of The High Court of Malaya. Judiciary of Malaysia. 22 July 2018.
  2. Web site: Bernama. 11 November 2019. 9 May 2020. Former chief judge Zaharah Ibrahim appointed Prasarana chairman. Malay Mail.
  3. Web site: Zaharah Ibrahim takes oath as chief judge of Malaya. V.. Anbalagan. Free Malaysia Today. 17 July 2018. 22 July 2018.
  4. Web site: Zaharah is second woman to be Chief Judge of Malaya. Ida. Lim. Malay Mail. 17 July 2018. 22 July 2018.
  5. Web site: 11 November 2019. 11 November 2019. Sinar Harian. Bekas Hakim Besar Malaya dilantik Pengerusi Kumpulan Prasarana. ms. Bernama.
  6. Web site: 11 November 2019. 26 July 2018. Former IGP Khalid quits Prasarana. The Star (Malaysia).
  7. Web site: 11 November 2019. 26 July 2018. Khalid resigns as Prasarana group chairman. New Straits Times.
  8. Web site: Mahdzir appointed to TNB, Tajuddin to Prasarana. 9 May 2020. 8 May 2020. Malaysiakini.
  9. Web site: Sah Mahdzir terajui TNB, Tajuddin ketuai Prasarana. Zain. Haspaizi. 9 May 2020. 8 May 2020. Malaysiakini. ms.
  10. Web site: Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat.
  11. Web site: 1,546 honoured on King's birthday. The Star. 18 October 2018. 5 June 2016. Bernama.
  12. Web site: DPMS 1997. awards.selangor.gov.my.