Former High Court judge V T Singham passed away this evening at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur. His body will be brought back to Ipoh for the funeral. He was 68.
Gopal Sri Ram, former Federal Court judge, described Singham as a very hard-working judge.
“He is learned and fiercely independent. I have lost a good friend.
“His death reminds us how fragile life is and the importance of judges doing justice, irrespective of the parties involved,” the former judge told Malaysiakini.
Former United Nations special rapporteur Param Cumaraswamy, who was also Malaysian Bar chairperson, agreed with Sri Ram on Singham's diligence.
“He is independent and known to have done his own research. I have lost a very good friend and he would be dearly missed in the legal fraternity,” Param told Malaysiakini.
Former Court of Appeal judge Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus described Singham as humble and friendly.
"He has a passion for the law. Indeed he was a good judge. I have lost a good friend and colleague," Hishamudin told Malaysiakini.
Singham opted for optional retirement in 2013 at the age of 65. Judges can choose to retire at 66. He was a bachelor. He was also a part-time news reporter in the early days of his working life.
He entered the judiciary by becoming a High Court judicial officer in 2000 after being in private practice, and was confirmed a full High Court judge in 2002.
He was the most senior High Court judge and until his retirement, was never elevated to the Court of Appeal. He had served in Temerloh, Taiping, Ipoh, Kuantan, and Kuala Lumpur.
Funeral is expected to begin on Sunday at 11am at No 6, Jalan Abdul Manap, Lim Garden, Ipoh.
Among Singham's well-known judgments before he retired was the A Kugan death in custody case, where he called for the implementation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to look into police discipline due to the sharp rise in custodial violence, torture, and death in police custody.
He had described evidence from Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar, now inspector-general of police, together with the testimonies of three other police witnesses, as tantamount to suppression of evidence.
Singham also presided in former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's suit against Utusan Malaysia, over an interview the politician gave to the British Broadcasting Corporation. -Mkini
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