Malaysian who became a judge in Fiji puts down his thoughts

 David Alfred says his dream of writing his memoir proved to be a Herculean effort that was finally realised at the end of last year.

David Alfred presented a copy of his book to Suhakam chairman Hishamudin Yunus after the book launch on Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR:

 A Malaysian lawyer who once served as a judge in Fiji’s superior courts has accomplished his lifelong dream of writing a memoir tracing his childhood and experiences in the legal profession.

David Alfred, who said he had written many judgments in Fiji, decided to put together his thoughts after the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020,when he, like everyone else, was confined to his home.

Alfred, who turned 80 in January, said the task proved to be a Herculean effort that was finally realised at the end of last year.

The book, “Legal Passages: Memoirs of a Judge”, published by Thomson Reuters Malaysia, was launched on Friday by Human Rights Commission of Malaysia chairman Hishamudin Yunus, who studied law with Alfred in England.

Alfred became a contract judge in Fiji’s High Court from 2015 to 2019 after three decades in private practice in Malaysia and later as in-house counsel for two commercial banks.

“I then elected to retire. But destiny had other plans for me,” he said.

During his time in Fiji, he was also invited to sit on the Fijian Court of Appeal from time to time, and was also appointed to the Court of Disputed Returns (similar to Malaysia’s Election Court) and awarded a parliamentary seat to an opposition candidate.

“This incurred the ire of the then attorney-general, who did not hesitate to openly express his dissatisfaction with my decision,” he said.

Alfred said he was recounting the incident to show that a judge could not merely claim to be independent but must “show he is independent by demonstrating high self-esteem and delivering judgments plainly made without fear, favour or prejudice.

At the book launch, Hishamudin, who is also a retired Court of Appeal judge and is known for his impartiality, said judges must put aside personal sentiments and scrupulously adhere to applicable laws and precedents.

He said judges, both while in office and in retirement, are bound by a code of conduct. “Retirement, however, accords some latitude in expressing and publishing opinions,” Hishamudin said.

Also present at the launch were Fiji’s high commissioner to Malaysia, Ratu Etueni Qiolele Caucau; former attorney-general Abu Talib Othman; and retired judges James Foong, Prasad Sandosham Abraham, Mah Weng Kwai, VC George and Ariff Yusof. - FMT