Service and dedication to fairness: True legacy of judicial leadership

LETTERS: I read with deep appreciation the NST report "CJ: Judges' Legacies Make a Judiciary".

I could not agree more with the profound observation by Chief Justice Tun Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh:

"A judiciary is built not merely of marble and mahogany, but on the legacies of our judicial predecessors. It is not built by grand courthouses, but by the character, conduct and legacy of the judges who serve within it."

This is a truth that every Malaysian should cherish. We are rightly proud of the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, yet no building — however grand — can sustain public trust on its own.

The true strength of our judiciary lies in the judgments handed down, the integrity shown in court, and the independence upheld without fear or favour.

The Chief Justice's tribute to four former leaders of our judiciary — Tun Mohamed Eusoff Chin, Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, and Tun Siti Norma Yaakob — reminds us that legacies are made not by titles, but by service.

These men and women understood that justice is not just a matter of power; it is a promise to the people.

They lived by the principle "hakim bukan Parlimen" — judges do not make the law, they uphold it — and in doing so, they strengthened the very foundation of our nation.

Our country's judicial independence is more than an ideal written in the Constitution. It is the foundation of Malaysia's good name in the world.

Foreign investors look to our country not just for infrastructure or resources, but because they trust that agreements will be respected, disputes settled fairly, and the law applied equally to everyone.

We have been blessed with many such outstanding judges over the years. Their work stands as a bright example for all who follow.

The Palace of Justice may stand tall, but it is the people inside who make it truly just.

May that spirit of fairness, integrity, and independence continue to guide us for generations to come.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE

KUALA LUMPUR

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times