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Chong Siew Fai

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In thisChinese name,thefamily nameisChong ( trương ).
Yang Amat ArifTan SriDatuk Amar
Chong Siew Fai
PSMDAPNBS
Trương thủ?
2ndChief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak
In office
16 June 1995 – 3 July 2000
Nominated byMahathir Mohamad
Appointed byJa'afar
Preceded byMohamad Jemuri Serjan
Succeeded bySteve Shim Lip Kiong
Personal details
Born
Chong Siew Fai

(1935-01-04)4 January 1935
Sarikei,Sarikei Division,Raj of Sarawak(nowSarawak,Malaysia)
Died23 January 2006(2006-01-23)(aged 71)
Kuching,Kuching Division,Sarawak,Malaysia
Resting placeNirvana Memorial Park,Bau,Kuching Division,Sarawak,Malaysia
CitizenshipMalaysian
NationalityMalaysia
Spouse
Rosalind T'en Yaw Hee
​
​
(m.1968)​
RelationsChong Siew Chiang(brother)
Chong Chieng Jen(nephew)
Residence(s)Kuching,Kuching Division,Sarawak,Malaysia
Alma materLincoln's Inn
OccupationTeacher
Judge
ProfessionBarrister

Tan SriDatuk AmarChong Siew Fai(simplified Chinese:Trương thủ?;traditional Chinese:Trương thủ?;pinyin:Zhāng Shǒu?;Jyutping:Zoeng1 Sau2?;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Tiuⁿ Siú?;born 4 January 1935)[1]was aMalaysianbarristerandjudgewho served as the secondChief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak.

Early life and education

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Chong was born inSarikeiin the then-British protectoratestate ofRaj of Sarawakto a couple who were owners of a Chinesedrugstore.The oldest of seven siblings, he completed his high school education atSt. Anthony's National Secondary Schoolin his hometown and later also attended St. Joseph's National Secondary School inKuching.[1][2][3]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 hisalma mater,St. Anthony's, including teaching Form 4 and 5 (Years 11 and 12) morning classes between 1952 and 1962.[1][2]

On 27 September 1962, Chong, aged 27, used his savings from his teaching days to pay for his ship ticket toLondon,United Kingdomto begin his studies after being accepted intoLincoln's Inn.[1][2][3]Working tirelessly, he finished his studies in 18 months compared to the usual three years.[4]Upon completion of his studies and admission to theEnglish Barin 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.[2][3]

Career

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Advocates' Association of Sarawak

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In May 1965, he was called to theAdvocates' Association of Sarawak(Sarawak Bar) and practised law at "Messrs. Yong & Co." until December 1967.[1]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.[3]During this time, he was appointedCommissioner for Oaths(August 1978) and laterNotary public(October 1978).[1]

Judicial

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Immediately after his tenure ended, Chong was appointed a judge of theHigh 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 KinabaluandSibu.[2]In 1994, Chong was elevated to serve in theFederal Court of Malaysia,theapex courtinMalaysia.[3]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 theChief Justice of Malaysia,President of the Court of Appeal of MalaysiaandChief Judge of Malaya.[2]Simultaneously, he was also appointed a judge of theSpecial Court of Malaysia.[5]He served in this office between June 1995 and July 2000 before retiring.[1]

Other positions

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  • Chairman of Ku Seng Association, Sarawak (January 1975 to January 1980)[1]
  • Vice Chairman of the Hakka Association, Kuching (January 1979 to January 1980)[1]
  • Deputy Secretary-General of the Federation of the 1st Division Chinese Associations, Sarawak (November 1979 to January 1980)[1]

Honours

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Personal life

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Chong was aMalaysian ChineseofHakkadescent. He was married toPuan SriDatin AmarRosalind T'en Yaw Hee on 2 October 1968, together, they have one son and three daughters.[2][3][4]Chong's nephew and son of Chong Siew Chiang,Chong Chieng Jen,is the currentDeputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs of MalaysiaandMember of Parliament(MP) forStampin.[7]

  • Chairman of Matrix International Berhad (January 2003 to January 2006)[5]

Death

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Chong died on 23 January 2006 at his home in Kuching having suffered fromcolon cancerfor the previous 18 months.[3]

References

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  1. ^abcdefghijk"Former Chief Justice".judiciary.kehakiman.gov.my.2019.Retrieved10 August2019.
  2. ^abcdefgChong, Yuh Tyng (27 April 2011)."My Father, the Judge (Stories from the East)".Retrieved10 August2019.
  3. ^abcdefg"Former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak dies".Bernama.Malaysian Bar.23 January 2006.Retrieved10 August2019.
  4. ^abChong, Yuh Tyng."REMEMBERING THE LATE TAN SRI DATUK AMAR CHONG SIEW FAI (FORMER CHIEF JUDGE OF SABAH AND SARAWAK)"(PDF).kehakiman.gov.my.Retrieved10 August2019.
  5. ^abhttps://www.berjaya.com/berjaya-assets/assets/images/annual-reports/bjassets03.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  6. ^ab"SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT".Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia).Archived fromthe originalon 19 July 2019.Retrieved9 August2019.
  7. ^Md. Yusof, Nur Farzana (26 July 2017)."'CJ's tenure extension proof of discrimination against Sabah, Sarawak'".Retrieved10 August2019.
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Preceded by Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak
1995–2000 		Succeeded by
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