Sarawak PKR chairperson Baru Bian has questioned what he claimed was "disrespectful" treatment of East Malaysia after Chief Judge of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum was overlooked as the next chief justice.

He said this in response to the controversial extension of Md Raus Sharif as chief justice and Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin as Court of Appeal president despite having reached the mandatory retirement age of 66 and six months.

Baru, who is also Ba'kelalan assemblyperson, said if Putrajaya does not come clean on the apparent sidelining of Malanjum, it will only reinforce the notion that East Malaysia was often discriminated.

"In the absence of an acceptable explanation, the inescapable conclusion is that we are but the poor cousins and the fixed deposits, useful only to fund West Malaysian development and securing the BN victory during the elections, and to be ignored the rest of the time.

"The question of suitability and qualification does not even arise as it is not in the contemplation of the powers that be that our talents are in the same pool and deserve equal consideration," he said in a statement today.

Baru described Malanjum as "the most suitable candidate", taking into account his seniority and capability...