Steve Shim Lip Kiong

In this Chinese name, the family name is Shim (沈).

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.

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 by	Mahathir Mohamad
Appointed by	Salahuddin
Preceded by	Chong Siew Fai
Succeeded by	Richard Malanjum
Personal details
Born	Steve Shim Lip Kiong (1940-01-20) 20 January 1940 (age 85) Kuching, Kuching Division, Raj of Sarawak (now Sarawak, Malaysia)
Citizenship	Malaysian
Nationality	Malaysia
Alma mater	Inner Temple Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Occupation	Judge
Profession	Lawyer

Steve Shim Lip Kiong
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	沈立強
Hanyu Pinyin	Shěn Lìqiáng
Jyutping	Sam2 Laap6 Koeng4
Hokkien POJ	Sím Li̍p-kiông
Tâi-lô	Sím Li̍p-kiông

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

• Malaysia :
  • Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1988)^[11][12]
  • Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) - Datuk (1999)
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) - Tan Sri (2001)^[1]
• Sarawak :
  • Meritorious Service Medal-Silver (PPB)^[1]
  • Companion of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (JBK)^[1]
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) - Datuk Amar (2003)