Chairman of SUHAKAM
Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin Yunus was born on 9 September 1949 in Johol, Negeri Sembilan. After completing his secondary education at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, he studied law at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in England, where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (Hons). He was called to the English Bar by The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in 1973. In 1978, he obtained his Master of Laws, also from the LSE.
In 2016 Dato’ Seri Hishamudin obtained his Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration from CIArb (UK) and in the same year was admitted as a Member of CIArb. In 2018 he was appointed a Fellow of Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin began his career in the Malaysian Judicial and Legal Service in August 1973 as a magistrate in Kuala Lumpur and went on to serve in other capacities, including President of Sessions Court, Deputy Public Prosecutor, State Legal Advisor for the State of Selangor, Deputy Parliamentary Draftsman, and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court.
In 1984 he was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the Malaysian Bar.
Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin was appointed Judicial Commissioner in 1992. He became a High Court Judge in 1994 and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2009, where he remained until his retirement in September 2015.
In 2008 Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin was appointed by the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) to lead a fact finding mission to South Africa to inquire into a proposal by the South African Government to amend the Constitution of South Africa and what effect it had on the independence of the Judiciary of that country.
For his services to the nation, Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin has been awarded the Darjah Setia DiRaja Kedah by His Highness the Sultan of Kedah and the Darjah Setia Negeri Sembilan by His Highness the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan.
Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin was a Consultant with the legal firm Messrs Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, Kuala Lumpur from September 2015 until September 2020.
Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin is now empanelled by the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) as an Arbitrator.
On 21 November 2016 Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin was appointed by the Government as Chairman of the Independent Committee of Inquiry to inquire into the fire tragedy at Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru on 25 October 2016; to find out the causes and to make appropriate recommendations to the Government as to how to prevent similar fire incidents in the future, and as to how to improve fire safety in hospitals.
On 4 September 2018 Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin was appointed as a member of the Judicial Appointment Commission (JAC).
On 5 September 2018 Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin was appointed as Chairman of the Competition Commission of Malaysia (MyCC).
On 20 September 2018 Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin was appointed as Chairman of the Independent Committee on Management of Foreign Labour, Ministry of Human Resources.
On 27 April 2019 Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin was appointed as a member of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM).
Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin is now a Consultant with the legal firm Messrs Rosli Dahlan Saravana Lawpartnership, Kuala Lumpur.
On 30 May 2024 Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin was appointed as a member of the Protem Committee for The Asian International Arbitration Centre (Malaysia) (AIAC) Court of Arbitration.
On 3 July 2024 Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin was appointed as Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM). Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin is married with Datin Seri Siti Fatimah Ahmad and is endowed with 4 children and 3 grandchildren.