PUTRAJAYA — The Federal Court recently held a formal ceremonial session to honor the memories and contributions of four prominent former judges in Malaysia’s judiciary, drawing remarks from family members, legal professionals, and the Chief Justice.
The event paid tribute to former chief justices Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin, Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, and Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, as well as Tan Sri Siti Norma Yaakob, the former chief judge of Malaya. Three of these jurists passed away in 2026, while Mohamed Dzaiddin died in 2024.
Chief Justice Tun Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh recalled the rich legacies left by these figures during his address, drawing inspiration from Francis Bacon’s essay “Of Judicature,” which underscores the multifaceted responsibilities of judges to litigants, advocates, court officials, and the state.
Mohd Eusoff Chin, who served as Chief Justice for six years and 86 days—the longest tenure among the four—was noted for his efforts to instill discipline and punctuality within the judiciary. Wan Ahmad Farid recounted how Mohd Eusoff introduced a system requiring judges to clock in and personally called judges’ residences in more remote areas to encourage timeliness, which ultimately improved attendance.
Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah’s tenure lasted just over two years, but Wan Ahmad Farid emphasized that the brief period did not diminish his impact. Dzaiddin’s early career as a journalist and police inspector gave him a unique perspective on justice, enabling him to appreciate it through the public’s eyes. The Chief Justice highlighted that Dzaiddin’s legacy includes teaching the judiciary to listen more attentively.
Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad held the post for less than a year but contributed extensively to Malaysian jurisprudence with 567 judgments, eight published books, and over 500 speeches and papers. His work particularly addressed the complex relationship between Syariah and civil law, offering guidance on jurisdictional boundaries through his publication, “Konflik dan Pengharmonian.” Wan Ahmad Farid noted that then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had appointed Abdul Hamid primarily because of his integrity.
Tan Sri Siti Norma Yaakob’s career was marked by a series of groundbreaking firsts for women in the judiciary. She was the first Malay female barrister called to Gray’s Inn in 1962 and subsequently filled numerous pioneering roles: the first woman executive in the Judicial and Legal Service (1963), the first female President of the Sessions Court (1967), the first female chief registrar of the Federal Court (1980), and the first female High Court judge in 1983. She further broke barriers as the inaugural female member of the Court of Appeal in 1994, the first female Federal Court justice in 2001, and in 2005, became the first woman to serve as Chief Judge of Malaya.
Tun Wan Ahmad Farid concluded the session by emphasizing the enduring influence of these jurists on the legal institution and calling on the current judiciary to uphold their standards for future generations.