YOURSAY | ‘Hats off to an honest, courageous, bold and sympathetic judge…’

Whistleblower judge marks retirement by publishing three books

Vijay47: Unfortunately, Yang Arif Hamid Sultan Abu Backer, the facet of your sterling though smothered career that clings most to the public mind is the suspension that you suffered for daring to file an affidavit revealing the allegedly more unsavoury goings-on within the halls of justice.

One would have thought that your revelation would have prompted all those in authority to have leapt to investigate the accusations you mentioned; alas, as history would record, that was not meant to be.

The judiciary, its honour and reputation, are part of the precious foundation of any nation that professes to follow the righteous and proper path.

These cannot be sullied by either those within who stray and those making unfounded insinuations; if your complaints were false, thereby bringing the court into dishonour, you should have been charged.

You were not, which obviously lends veracity to your contentions. Instead, you were confined to the cellar.

We remember with great clarity the unfortunate consequences that befell Malaysiakini for purportedly the very same offence, of bringing the honour of the court to contempt through its readers’ comments.

In the same way, former attorney-general Tommy Thomas also should have been taken, ironically, to court.

He claimed in his book, again openly, that the then proposal to establish a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) was opposed by serving and retired judges. Isn’t this a further affront to the court’s stature?

Again, nothing happened and the public is left to wonder what is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and of forces powerful enough to obstruct inquiries into abuse and fraud.

Order, order in court, you say?

Kim Quek: It is a great pity that Pakatan Harapan government’s agreed RCI on alleged political interference and corruption prevailing in our judiciary as revealed by Justice Hamid Sultan was thwarted by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Otherwise, we could have launched a historical cleansing of our judicial system rendered dysfunctional since its massacre by Mahathir in 1988 when then Lord President Salleh Abas and his fellow Supreme Court judges were unjustly sacked.

If not for that judicial carnage in 1988, Malaysia would not have fallen to the current decadent state where the constitution and rule of law are sidelined and corruption rampant.

Hence, it should be the top priority of any new government to rank the restoration of independence and integrity to our judicial system as its top reform agenda if Malaysia were ever to aspire to rise from the current quagmire.

Fair Malaysian: Since the dark days of the Mahathir era and the judge-fixing episode of "correct, correct, correct", there have been a few judges here and there who made us believe that at least in certain ways, we can plant our hope in the judicial system.

Shamefully, those implicated by the RCI were never taken to task. It was conveniently forgotten. But Hamid Sultan will always be in our minds.

The Harapan government missed a golden opportunity in not taking forward the proposed RCI and the explanation given was some sitting and past judges were against it.

For this, and this alone, they deserve to be booted out. Instead of doing what is right, the Harapan government blinked and was more interested in playing politics.

Dr Raman Letchumanan: Dear Sir, you are a brave and honourable man.

In the court of public opinion, you are our hero. History will judge who are the righteous ones and who are not.

You can be in peace and move on to greater ventures, but not the ones who betrayed us. They will continuously be in fear, even at the mention of a RCI, like what Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did yesterday.

I read the full 67-page affidavit and commented then that based on the detailed analysis of court cases, it cannot be anything but the truth. Even though you didn't mention names, one can easily conclude who the main players are.

Now you have emerged with gusto, the day your career service ended, to be of public service to the ordinary people who have suffered much from the skewed implementation of the rule of law.

It is plain for everybody to see, but many are cowed or threatened if they fight back. You have the enviable position and knowledge from the bench to unravel this rule by law.

Keep it up, and you will be the darling of the ordinary folks. Remember all it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to remain silent.

Pelita: From early on in his career, it was noticeable that he was both erudite and resolute in his convictions on the ideals and practice of justice. Upright individuals of his kind render much good to their profession and the nation, and should stand in good stead.

But that would much depend on the overall persuasion of the institution they serve. He obviously still has much to offer in the form of learning gain to others in a still-fledgling judicial process. My very best wishes to Hamid Sultan.

Vgeorgemy: His Lordship would be known as the father of legal activism and the people’s judge for challenging elitism and the establishment.

We wish His Lordship all the success in his endeavours in enlightening future generations on the importance of legal activism.

Dr Suresh Kumar: Hats off to an honest, courageous, bold and sympathetic judge who called a spade a spade without fear or favour.

The type of gem that this country needs badly, but alas, such gem will never be allowed to remain long in this filthy system. May the words in his books inspire the thoughts of others. Take a well-deserved rest, sir.

Vent: Indeed, a rare breed in the unhallowed halls of the Malaysian judiciary. We salute you, sir! Your service was certainly not in vain.

“Bear in mind that the measure of a man is the worth of the things he cares about. If it is good to say or do something, then it is even better to be criticised for having said or done it.” - Marcus Aurelius

Anon25: I doubt if anybody looks forward to retirement, especially in this case. It was preceded by a suspension from work as a form of punishment.

For Hamid Sultan to really enjoy his retirement, I think his affidavit must be made public and at least a high-level investigation instituted.

Hang Babeuf: Res ipsa loquitur.

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