OPENING OF THE LEGAL YEAR SABAH & SARAWAK 2025

10 January 2025 - Kuching, Sarawak

This year’s Ceremonial Procession for the Opening Legal Year of Sabah and Sarawak took place in Kuching, Sarawak. 

Some 600 members of the legal fraternity who included judges, lawyers, pupils, and delegates from Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Peninsula Malaysia convened at the Old Courthouse as early as 6 am, in full regalia, to participate in the Procession. To commemorate this special occasion, group photography sessions commenced before participating guests embarked on a 1.1 km walk to the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) led by the Right Honourable Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who became the first female Chief Justice of Malaysia in 2019. This marks her final year walking the Procession as Chief Justice before her retirement in July 2025.

Alongside the Chief Justice were the President of the Court of Appeal, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim; the Chief Judge of Malaya, Datuk Seri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim; the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Dato’ Abdul Rahman Sebli; the Attorney-General, Datuk Mohamad Dusuki Mokhtar; the Attorney-General of Sarawak, Datuk Seri Saferi Ali; and the Attorney General of Sabah, Datuk Brenndon Keith Soh.

At the HEEC, a choir of singers, dressed in traditional clothing, led the National anthem, as well as the Sabah and Sarawak anthems,  illustrating the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Sabah and Sarawak.

Attendees then heard speeches by the President of the AAS, President of the Sabah Law Society, the SAG of Sarawak, the SAG of Sabah and the AG. 

YAA Tan Sri Dato’ Abdul Rahman Sebli, delivered a reply to all the preceding speeches, recognising the points made, addressing the feedback shared, and reflecting on the developments of the legal year. Set to also retire this year, he expressed confidence in the legal fraternity's ability to uphold justice, provided that unity is maintained, before officially declaring the judicial year open.