Steve Shim Lip Kiong

In this Chinese name, the family name is Shim (沈).
Yang Amat Arif Tan Sri Datuk Amar
Steve Shim Lip Kiong
PSM DA PJN JBK KMN PPB
沈立强
3rd Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak
In office
2 July 2000 – 25 July 2006
Nominated byMahathir Mohamad
Appointed bySalahuddin
Preceded byChong Siew Fai
Succeeded byRichard Malanjum
Personal details
Born
Steve Shim Lip Kiong

(1940-01-20) 20 January 1940 (age 84)
Kuching, Kuching Division, Raj of Sarawak (now Sarawak, Malaysia)
CitizenshipMalaysian
Nationality Malaysia
Alma materInner Temple
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
OccupationJudge
ProfessionLawyer
Steve Shim Lip Kiong
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese沈立強
Hanyu PinyinShěn Lìqiáng
JyutpingSam2 Laap6 Koeng4
Hokkien POJSím Li̍p-kiông
Tâi-lôSím Li̍p-kiông

Tan Sri Datuk Amar Steve Shim Lip Kiong (simplified Chinese: 沈立强; traditional Chinese: 沈立強; pinyin: Shěn Lìqiáng; born 20 January 1940)[1] is a Malaysian lawyer and judge who served as the third Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak.

Early life and education

Shim was born in Kuching in the then-British protectorate state of Raj of Sarawak. He completed his A Level studies in Westminster College, London, United Kingdom in 1962 before receiving his barrister-at-law from the Inner Temple in 1969.[1] In 1980, Shim graduated from the Faculty of International and Comparative Law at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium with a Master of Laws (Honours) (LL.M. (Hons.)).[2][1]

Career

1970 & 1980s

Shim's career in the legal service began on 10 August 1970 when he became a cadet legal officer. By 1977, he was made a registrar at the High Court of Borneo. In between, Shim had also served as a crown counsel and magistrate.[1] His career then progressed further when he was appointed as a sessions courts judge in 1989.[2]

1990 & 2000s

On 1 March 1992, Shim was appointed as a judicial commissioner at the High Court in Sibu.[1] He served in that capacity for just five months before being promoted as judge of the same High Court in August 1992. As a High Court judge, Shim took postings in Kuching and later Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, beginning 1996.[2]

Having served as a High Court judge for almost eight years, Shim was chosen to take over duties as acting Chief Judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in July 2000. He officially ascended to the fourth highest judicial office in Malaysia, after the Chief Justice of Malaysia, President of the Court of Appeal of Malaysia and Chief Judge of Malaya, in September 2000.[2]

Shim retired from the legal service on 19 July 2006.[3]

2010s

In 2011, Shim was selected to chair the newly-created National Wage Consultative Council placed under the Ministry of Human Resources of Malaysia.[4]

Following the loss of Mohammad Najib Abdul Razak and his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the 14th Malaysian general election, Shim was selected to chair a special tribunal formed in 17 October 2018 to probe and seek the removal of six members of the Election Commission of Malaysia (SPR) after thirteen charges were framed against the latter.[5][6][7][8][9] In May 2019, Shim deemed the matter academic and announced that the tribunal has decided to no longer proceed its probe after the personnel in question all opted for early resignation. This decision earned him a rebuke from the Attorney General of Malaysia, Tommy Thomas.[10]

Honours

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Former Chief Justice". judiciary.kehakiman.gov.my. 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "High Court of Sabah and Sarawak At Kuching". www.kgcourt.sarawak.gov.my. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  3. ^ "YBhg. Tan Sri Datuk Amar Steve Shim Lip Kiong". jac.gov.my. 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Former Chief Judge of Sabah, Sarawak appointed chairman of wages council". Bernama. The Borneo Post. 29 September 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  5. ^ "Six ex-EC commissioners to face tribunal". Malaysiakini. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Tribunal begins investigation Monday into alleged misconduct of six former EC members". Bernama. The Sun (Malaysia). 24 January 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  7. ^ Palansamy, Yiswaree (28 January 2019). "Misconduct tribunal turns chaotic after lawyer admits EC members already quit". Malay Mail. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Tribunal on ex-EC members' alleged GE14 misconduct to meet on Monday (Jan 28)". The Star (Malaysia). 24 January 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  9. ^ Alhadjri, Alyaa (24 May 2019). "3-2 decision: Tribunal ends hearing on ex-EC members, calls it futile exercise". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  10. ^ Chin, Emmanuel Santa Maria (24 May 2019). "AG, Bersih disappointed tribunal hearing against EC members' misconduct will not proceed". Malay Mail. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  11. ^ "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Utama - Bahagian Istiadat Dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa" (PDF). www.istiadat.gov.my. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak
2000–2006 		Succeeded by