Farewell to a courageous judge, V T Singham (updated)

16
1907

He delivered justice in the case of A Kugan, who was brutally tortured and found dead in police custody.

Justice V T SIngham
Justice V T SIngham

And he spoke up for the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, which is what many are clamouring for.

Justice V T Singham retires after delivering a judgement that stunned the nation.

Blog visitor Hamid Ibrahim adds:

I knew Singham from 1966 when I was the Town Council Secretary in Teluk Intan. He was Judge’s clerk and he was very keen on learning the law. He was with Cheang Lee Ong – Advocates & Solicitors.

When I started the CLJ in 1981, he came to work for me as legal editor in Kuala Lumpur; very studious, meticulous and hard-working person.

Later, he was a first-class criminal advocate.

When I was in London on business trips, he used to visit me and he was studying at the Buckingham University together with my son Nasser.

He is very courageous and forthright; it is hard to understand how he has been overlooked for promotion while … other junior judges were promoted.

He joined as a High Court judge and left as one.

Very sad indeed.

WE WISH HIM WELL.

(Actually, he joined as a judicial commissioner in 2000 and was elevated to the High Court in 2002.)

Well done, good judge. Malaysia needs more judges like you.

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the mythbuster
30 Jun 2013 9.43pm

A very wise has been made by Justice V T Singam. Whether it is going to be overturned is moot. What really matters is that a prominent and impartial judge has given his judgement based on facts and derided even those felons trying to cover up the crude and sadistic nature of the crime. If learned judges overturn his judgement to please the executive and the criminals involved, that would only mean that the judiciary is worse …

Ahmad Sobri
Ahmad Sobri
30 Jun 2013 3.22pm

Courageous or not, I have a feeling that his wise decision will be overturned upon appeal?

Such is the position of our courts? That those strong and powerful are always favoured?

I guess this wise decision will be overruled upon appeal(?) Sad.

rajraman666
rajraman666
29 Jun 2013 9.17pm

It’s not my icon again.
rajraman.Something wrong with wordpress.This icon my identity.I am obsess with time.

rajraman666
29 Jun 2013 6.41pm

dr, Hamid,
You said he is good integrity man but not promoted.It’s shows you don’t see the colors and race.You are a good man as justice Singham.

rajraman666. The Umno sees him as Indians and Indians have slim chance to be promoted.
rajraman666. Why the Police torture … until they die? … The keepers of Law have no mercy or scared of god.

dr hamid ibrahim
dr hamid ibrahim
29 Jun 2013 12.19pm

Dear Anil I knew Singham from 1966 when I was the Town Council Secretary in Teluk Intan. He was Judges clerk and he was very keen on learning the law. He was with Cheang Lee Ong – Adv & Solicitors. When I started the CLJ in 1981 he came to work for me as legal editor in Kuala Lumpur ; very studious, meticulous and hard working person. Later he was a first class criminal advocate. When I was in London on business trips, he used to visit me and he was studying at the Buckingham University together with my son… Read more »

Anak Kuching
Anak Kuching
29 Jun 2013 10.55am

Good and brave judge. Happy Retirement.

the mythbuster
the mythbuster
28 Jun 2013 10.19pm

High Court Judge, V T Singam is a rare breed in our judiciary. When most of the members of the bench have no qualms or scruples in clamouring to please the Executive and members of the Cabinet with sans regard to the oath of the high office that they have taken, it comes as a very pleasant and heart warming surprise indeed to come across a doyen in the midst of a judiciary that lost all semblance of fair play, impartiality and above all its mandate. Hope we have more and more courageous and learned judges in the judiciary. Hope… Read more »

complain complain complain @ GK
complain complain complain @ GK
28 Jun 2013 9.28pm

All capital letters = shouting – not following blog rule = should be deleted

Andrew I
Andrew I
29 Jun 2013 5.16pm

Mind your own business.

ichfapPARAMASVARAN KANDIAH
28 Jun 2013 9.24pm

Many will scarce believe that a MAN such as this served in the Malaysian Judiciary in this Century. When Malaysia’s History is written in the correct perspective in the years to come it is assured that The Hon’ble JUSTICE V T Singham will be remembered for his stoic defence of Justice in an era which could be termed the ‘worst of times’.

tunglang
tunglang
28 Jun 2013 9.20pm

VT Singham, we salute you for your righteous judgement & sense of what is utterly wrong to face the rule of law.
In fact, you have brought to our senses what it is like on Judgement Day (of the Lord).
Have a happy retirement & a legacy which we Malaysians will be proud of you.
BTW, do visit Belum Rainforest & I believe you will experience the rule of the jungle more civilised than what we have in our present society & lockups.

barney
barney
28 Jun 2013 8.08pm

HE IS THE REAL SINGAM (LION) WHO HAS NO FEAR OR FAVOR. HIS JUDGEMENT WAS BASED ON JUSTICE AND NOT LAW OF THE JUNGLE. HE CAN WALK WITH HIS HEAD UP AND HIS FAMILY WILL BE PROUD OF HIM. JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED AND SEEN TO BE DONE. I SALUTE YOU SIR FOR YOUR INTEGRITY AND UPHOLDING THE LAW. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU HEALTHY WITH LONG LIFE, WE MALAYSIANS ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU SIR,

Dislike read bean ice @ GK best food listing
Dislike read bean ice @ GK best food listing
28 Jun 2013 7.27pm

Hello, are you boring or not ??? When you win, you say nice thing. And when you lose, you say the bad thing.

When you win election, no complaint of fraud. When you lose, you complaint everything including weather.

Please grow up !!! It is getting boring with your standard operating procedure.

tunglang
tunglang
28 Jun 2013 9.31pm

GK, if you are selling Iced Chendol (not necessary or advisable @ Lebuh Keng Kwee) without the Penang Lang red beans, you are sure to fail on day one.
Why not work & sweat like Indon maids at Ori-Maestros’ street hawker stalls to learn the original secret recipe so that one fine day, you can authentically claim to be in the Penang best food listing?

Andrew I
Andrew I
29 Jun 2013 4.08pm

Correct, correct, correct.

Brian
Brian
28 Jun 2013 6.26pm

It’s sad that Singam’s courageous act had to be followed by his retirement. Would he have been so brave if he was few years to retirement?. I think even if he had many years left he would have delivered the same judgements.These are the type of calibered people who should be in parliament not the goons we have including the PM.