Arifin bin Zakaria (born 1 October 1950) is a

Malaysian Malaysian may refer to: * Something from or related to Malaysia, a country in Southeast Asia * Malaysian Malay, a dialect of Malay language spoken mainly in Malaysia * Malaysian people, people who are identified with the country of Malaysia regard ...

lawyer who served as the seventh Chief Justice of Malaysia, serving from 12 September 2011, succeeding

Zaki Azmi Tun Zaki bin Tun Azmi ( ms, زكي بن عزمي, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; born 12 September 1945) is a Malaysian barrister who served as the sixth Chief Justice of Malaysia. He was appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King ...

, until 31 March 2017.

Education background

After completing his secondary education at ,

Kota Bahru Kota Bharu, colloquially referred to as KB, is a town in Malaysia that serves as the state capital and royal seat of Kelantan. It is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia and lies near the mouth of the Kelantan River. The ...

, he went to read law at the

University of Sheffield , mottoeng = To discover the causes of things , established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions: – Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield , type = Pu ...

. Upon graduation, he joined the Malaysian Judicial and Legal Service in September 1974. In 1979, he pursued the

Master of Laws A Master of Laws (M.L. or LL.M.; Latin: ' or ') is an advanced postgraduate academic degree, pursued by those either holding an undergraduate academic law degree, a professional law degree, or an undergraduate degree in a related subject. In mos ...

(LL.M.) degree at

University College London , mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £143 million (2020) , budget = ...

(UCL) and the Bar Final Course at the Council of Legal Education. In June 1980, he was called to the English Bar, and in the same year he received his LL.M. from University College London.

Career

Prior to his elevation to the High Court Bench of Malaysia, he had served in various capacities in the Government of Malaysia both in the Judicial Office, as well as in the Legal Department. Among the positions held by him were Magistrate, President of the Sessions Court, Senior Assistant Registrar of the High Court, Federal Counsel and Senior Federal Counsel, Legal Advisor to Ministry of Primary Industries, Legal Advisor to the Public Services Department, Legal Advisor to Malacca and Perak, Deputy Parliamentary Draftsman and Senior Federal Counsel of the Inland Revenue Department. On 1 March 1992, he was appointed Judicial Commissioner of the

High Court of Malaya The high courts in Malaysia are the third-highest courts in the hierarchy of courts, after the Federal Court and the Court of Appeal. Article 121 of the Constitution of Malaysia provides that there shall be two high courts of co-ordinate jurisdi ...

and two years after, he was appointed as a High Court Judge of Malaya. In 2002, he was elevated to the

Court of Appeal of Malaysia The Court of Appeal ( ms, Mahkamah Rayuan Malaysia) is an appellate court of the judiciary system in Malaysia. It is the second highest court in the hierarchy below the Federal Court. This court was created in 1994 as part of reforms made to t ...

. In 2005, he was elevated to the

Federal Court of Malaysia The Federal Court of Malaysia ( ms, Mahkamah Persekutuan Malaysia) is the highest court and the final appellate court in Malaysia. It is housed in the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya. The court was established during Malaya's independence in 1 ...

. He was appointed to the present post of the Chief Judge of the High Court of Malaya effective 18 October 2008. His elevation as the Chief Justice of Malaysia was on 12 September 2011. During his judicial service, he also had served many position like the Judge of the Special Court, the Member of the Legal and Judicial Service Commission, the Committee Member of the Higher Court Method and the Lower Court Method, the Panel Member of the Sharia Appeal Court of

Kelantan Kelantan (; Jawi: ; Kelantanese Malay: ''Klate'') is a state in Malaysia. The capital is Kota Bharu and royal seat is Kubang Kerian. The honorific name of the state is ''Darul Naim'' (Jawi: ; "The Blissful Abode"). Kelantan is located in th ...

and the Member of the Qualification Board.

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

* : **

Commander of the

Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia The Most Esteemed Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia ( ms, Darjah Yang Mulia Setia Mahkota Malaysia) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country and awarded by the sovereign. The order was instituted ...

(PSM) – Tan Sri (2009) **

Grand Commander of the

(SSM) – Tun (2012) * : ** MY-KEL Order of the Crown of Kelantan - Star of Muhammad

Knight Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Kelantan Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

(DPMK) – Dato' (1999) ** My-KEL Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Kelantan

Knight Grand Commander of the

Order of the Loyalty to the Crown of Kelantan Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

(SPSK) – Dato' (2005) ** MY-KEL Order of the Crown of Kelantan - Star of Muhammad

Knight Grand Commander of the

(SPMK) – Dato' (2014) * : ** MY-PAH Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang - Grand Knight - SSAP

Grand Knight of the

Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang The Most Illustrious Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang ( Malay: ''Darjah Kebesaran Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang Yang Amat Di Mulia'') is a knighthood order of the Sultanate of Pahang. History The order was founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah on 24 O ...

(SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2008) * : ** MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Knight Grand Commander - DUPN

Knight Grand Commander of the

Order of the Defender of State Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

(DUPN) – Dato' Seri Utama (2012) * : ** MY-PERA Order of Cura Si Manja Kini (before 2001)

Knight of the

Order of Cura Si Manja Kini Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

(DPCM) – Dato' (1988) ** MY-PERA Order of the Perak State Crown - Kn Grd Commander - SPMP

Knight Grand Commander of the

Order of the Perak State Crown The Most Illustrious Order of the Perak State Crown ( Malay:''Darjah Kebesaran Mahkota Negeri Perak Yang Amat Mulia'') is knighthood order of the Sultanate of Perak. Background It was founded by Sultan Yusuf Izzuddin Shah on 12 December 1957. ...

(SPMP) – Dato' Seri (2010) ** Grand Knight of the

(SPCM) – Dato' Seri (2012) * : ** MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - SPDK

Grand Commander of the

Order of Kinabalu The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu (Malay: ''Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Kinabalu'') is the only order conferred by the Governor of Sabah, Malaysia. Background The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu is established by virtue of Section 3(a) of State Honou ...

(SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (2015) * : ** MY-SEL Order of the Crown of Selangor - Knight Grand Commander - SPMS

Knight Grand Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Selangor The Most Illustrious Order of the Crown of Selangor (Bahasa Melayu: ''Darjah Kebesaran Mahkota Selangor Yang Amat Mulia'') is an order awarded by Sultan of Selangor as a reward for general services to the sultan and state of Selangor. It was foun ...

(SPMS) – Dato' Seri (2012) * : ** MY-TER Order of the Crown of Terengganu - Dato Paduka - DPMT

Knight Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Terengganu The Most Distinguished Order of the Crown of Terengganu (Bahasa Melayu: ''Darjah Kebesaran Mahkota Terengganu Yang Amat Mulia'') is an honorific order of the Sultanate of Terengganu. History It was founded by Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin of Tereng ...

(DPMT) – Dato' (1986) ** MY-TER Order of Sultan Mahmud I of Terengganu - DSMT - ASM

Member Knight Companion of the

Order of Sultan Mahmud I of Terengganu The Most Revered Order of Sultan Mahmud I of Terengganu (Bahasa Melayu: ''Darjah Kebesaran Sultan Mahmud I Terengganu Yang Amat Terpuji'') is a dormant honorific order of the Sultanate of Terengganu History It was founded by Sultan Mahmud al- ...

(DSMT) – Dato' (1995)

Family

He is married to Toh Puan Robiah Abdul Kadir and had been blessed with 3 sons and 2 daughters.

References

External links

Website of the Federal Court of Malaysia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zakaria, Arifin Malaysian Muslims Malaysian people of Malay descent 1947 births People from Kelantan 20th-century Malaysian judges 21st-century Malaysian judges Alumni of the University of Sheffield Grand Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu Alumni of University College London Living people Chief justices of Malaysia Grand Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia Knights Commander of the Order of the Crown of Terengganu Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor