Who Is Abdul Rahman Sebli? Biodata, Wiki, Age, Wife, Kids, Family & Qualifications of Judge
Abdul Rahman Sebli is a prominent Malaysian judge who currently serves as the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, the head of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, and the fourth highest position in the Malaysian judicial system. He was appointed to this position on 17 January 2023, succeeding David Wong Dak Wah, who retired on 20 February 2022.
Abdul Rahman Sebli Wiki/Bio
| Name | Abdul Rahman Sebli |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 January 1959 |
| Place of birth | Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia |
| Ethnicity | Malay |
| Nationality | Malaysian |
| Religion | Islam |
| Spouse | Puan Sri Datin Sarbanun Mokhtar |
| Children | Seven |
| Education | Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) from the University of Malaya |
| Occupation | Judge |
| Current position | Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak |
| Appointed by | Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the recommendation and advice of the Prime Minister |
| Term started | 17 January 2023 |
| Preceded by | David Wong Dak Wah |
| Awards and honours | Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) which carries the title of Dato’ (2003) <br> Darjah Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) which carries the title of Tan Sri (2023) <br> Tun Mohamed Suffian Prize for the best student in constitutional law (1983) |
| Links | Instagram- #abdulrahmansebli Homepage- Newsunzip |
Early Life, Birthday and Education
Abdul Rahman Sebli was born on 25 January 1959 (age: 64 years, as of 2023) in Sibu, Sarawak, a town located on the island of Borneo. He is the eldest of six siblings. His father was a businessman and his mother was a housewife. He attended St. Mary’s Primary School and Sacred Heart Secondary School in Sibu, where he excelled in both academic and co-curricular activities. He was also active in sports, especially badminton and football.
He obtained his Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) degree from the University of Malaya in 1983, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Malaysia. He was a diligent and hardworking student, who participated in various moot court competitions and legal aid programs. He was also a member of the University of Malaya Law Society and the Malaysian Law Students’ Federation.
Career and Achievements
Upon graduation, Abdul Rahman Sebli joined the Judicial and Legal Service of Malaysia in December 1983, a branch of the Malaysian civil service that comprises judges, magistrates, prosecutors, and legal advisers. He began his career as a Deputy Public Prosecutor in the state of Sarawak, where he handled various criminal cases, ranging from drug trafficking to murder. He later served as a Deputy Public Prosecutor in the states of Pahang, Kelantan, and Kuala Lumpur, gaining valuable experience and exposure in different jurisdictions and legal systems.
In 1992, he was transferred to the Sarawak State Attorney-General’s Chambers, where he served as a Senior Federal Counsel and the Head of the Civil Division. He was responsible for advising the state government on various legal matters, such as land disputes, native customary rights, environmental issues, and constitutional law. He also represented the state government in civil litigation and arbitration cases, both at the domestic and international level.
In 1997, Abdul Sebli was appointed as a Sessions Court Judge in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, where he presided over criminal and civil cases at the lower court level. He was later transferred to Miri, Sarawak, where he continued to serve as a Sessions Court Judge until 2003. He was known for his impartiality, integrity, and efficiency in delivering justice. He also conducted several seminars and workshops for the judicial officers and court staff, to enhance their knowledge and skills.
In 2003, Abdul Rahman Sebli was appointed as the Legal Advisor to the State of Pahang, where he advised the state government on various legal matters, such as land administration, water resources, forestry, and Islamic affairs. He also represented the state government in civil litigation and arbitration cases, both at the domestic and international level. He was conferred the award of Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (D.I.M.P) by the Sultan of Pahang in 2003, which carries the honorific title of Dato’
In 2006, he was appointed as the Director of Legal Division at the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, where he oversaw the legal affairs of the department, such as drafting and reviewing legislation, regulations, and policies, providing legal advice and opinions, and handling litigation and prosecution cases involving customs offences. He also liaised with other government agencies, such as the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Ministry of Finance, and the Anti-Corruption Commission, on matters relating to customs law and enforcement.
In 2008, he was appointed as a Judicial Commissioner, a temporary judicial appointment that allows a person to perform the functions of a High Court Judge for a fixed period of time. He was assigned to the High Court of Malaya in Shah Alam, Selangor, where he heard and decided on criminal and civil cases at the higher court level. He was also involved in several high-profile cases, such as the murder trial of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian model who was killed by two policemen in 2006.
In 2010, Abdul Rahman Sebli was elevated to the position of a Judge of the High Court of Malaya, a permanent judicial appointment that confers the status of a High Court Judge. He was initially posted to the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, where he continued to hear and decide on criminal and civil cases at the higher court level. He was later transferred to the High Court of Malaya in Johor Bahru, Johor, where he served until his elevation to the Court of Appeal.
In 2014, Abdul Rahman was elevated to the Court of Appeal, the second highest court in Malaysia, where he sat as a member of a panel of three judges to hear and decide on appeals from the High Courts and subordinate courts. He was involved in several landmark cases, such as the constitutional challenge to the Sedition Act 1948, a colonial-era law that criminalizes speech that incites hatred or contempt against the government or the monarchy. He also wrote several notable judgments, such as the case of Indira Gandhi, a Hindu mother who sought to nullify the unilateral conversion of her three children to Islam by her ex-husband.
In 2019, Abdul Rahman Sebli was elevated to the Federal Court, the highest court in Malaysia, where he sat as a member of a panel of five or seven judges to hear and decide on appeals from the Court of Appeal and other special cases. He was also appointed as a member of the Judicial Appointments Commission, a statutory body that recommends candidates for judicial appointments to the Prime Minister and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He was conferred the award of Darjah Kebesaran Panglima Setia Mahkota (P.S.M) by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2023, which carries the honorific title of Tan Sri.
In 2023, he was appointed as the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, the head of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, and the fourth highest position in the Malaysian judicial system. He is the first person from Sarawak to hold this position since its establishment in 1994. As the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, he is responsible for the administration and supervision of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, which consists of 27 judges and 11 judicial commissioners. He is also a member of the Federal Court, the Judicial Appointments Commission, and the Rules Committee
Nik Elin Zurina
Abdul Rahman Sebli is a judge who had a connection with Nik Elin Zurina, a lawyer, and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Natasha, in a legal case that challenged the Kelantan syariah law. Nik Elin Zurina and her daughter filed a petition to the Federal Court in 2022, seeking to declare 18 provisions of the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment 2019 as unconstitutional. They argued that the state assembly had no power to enact criminal offenses that overlapped with federal law.
Abdul Sebli was one of the nine judges who heard and decided the case in 2024. He was the only dissenting judge who held that Nik Elin Zurina and her daughter had no locus standi, or legal standing, to bring the case to the court. He said that their constitutional rights were not affected by the enactment, as they were never charged under it. He also said that the case was an abuse of the court process, as the petitioners failed to meet the threshold required for the case to be heard. He questioned the absence of the Attorney General, who should have initiated the challenge.
The majority of the judges, however, ruled in favour of Nik Elin Zurina and her daughter, and declared 16 out of 18 provisions of the enactment as unconstitutional. They said that the state assembly had exceeded its legislative powers, as the matters of criminal law and punishment were within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal parliament. They also said that the petitioners had locus standi, as they were directly affected by the enactment, which violated their fundamental rights and freedoms
The case was a landmark ruling that sparked a debate on the constitutional relationship between the federal and state governments, as well as the role and scope of the Syariah law in Malaysia.
Height, Weight
- Height: 165 cm (5’5″)
- Weight: 64 kg
Personal Life, Spouse and Family
Abdul Rahman Sebli is married to a former teacher and a homemaker. They have seven children, four sons and three daughters, who are all successful professionals in various fields, such as law, medicine, engineering, and education. They also have several grandchildren, whom they adore and cherish.
Abdul Sebli is a devout Muslim, who performs his religious obligations diligently and faithfully. He is also a generous and charitable person, who supports various causes and organizations, such as orphanages, schools, and mosques. He is also a humble and modest person, who does not seek fame or recognition for his achievements and contributions. He is well-respected and admired by his colleagues, peers, and subordinates, who regard him as a role model and a mentor.
Abdul Rahman is a passionate and avid reader, who enjoys reading books on various topics, such as history, politics, religion, and law. He has a large and diverse collection of books in his personal library, which he often shares and lends to his friends and family. He is also a fan of classical music, especially Mozart and Beethoven, which he listens to relax and unwind. He also likes to travel and explore new places and cultures, especially with his wife and children.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth (USD) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $151,000 |
| 2023 | $170,000 |
Abdul Rahman Sebli is a distinguished and eminent judge, who has served the Malaysian judiciary for over 40 years, in various capacities and levels. He has made significant and lasting contributions to the development and advancement of the Malaysian legal system, especially in the areas of constitutional law, criminal law, civil law, and customs law. He has also upheld and defended the rule of law, the
