Two senior Malaysian lawyers appointed judges in Fiji
Wednesday, 05 September 2007 08:41pm
FIJI: Senior Malaysian lawyers Datuk Dr Cyrus Das, 58 and Datuk Cecil
Abraham, 61 have been appointed to the Fiji Court of Appeal by the President,
Ratu Josefa Iloilo, yesterday, Fiji Timesreported today.
Interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made this announcement following
the resignation of the six remaining expatriate judges from New Zealand and
Australia.
In June, LawAsia President, Mah Weng Kwai stepped down after
a week as the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption
so that it would not be misinterpreted as LawAsia endorsing the current military
government.
The Fiji Times also quoted Sayed-Khaiyum as saying the Judicial Services Commission
would make announcements in due course on the appointment of more highly qualified
judges to the Court of Appeal and to the High Court.
He added that Fiji was fortunate to have Das and Abraham.
He described Das as one of the finest advocates and lawyers on the Malaysian
Bar, and Abraham as one who "is held in high regard as a trial advocate".
Das is a senior partner of Messrs Shook Lin & Bok in Kuala Lumpur whilst
Abraham has just retired from Messrs Shearn Delamore & Co, also based in Kuala Lumpur.
Similar appointment, different feeling... written by Shim Wai Loon,
Wednesday, September 05 2007 09:52 pm
May this news strike the "top" judge & "top" politician right on their heads on how they EXERCISED THEIR DISCRETION in appointing judges. It tells us, or rather tells THEM, that there are still very experienced, capable & qualified lawyers around to be chosen for judicial service. Now, foreigners seem to know better on how to value and appreciate our local lawyers, isn't it ironic??
Although there are 2 similar appointments from the Bar almost at the same time, strangely, I feel happy and proud only for this appointment although both of them do not jump straight up to the apex court.
Shim Wai Loon
Congrats written by Richard Wee Thiam Seng,
Wednesday, September 05 2007 11:58 pm
Congratulations to Datuk Dr Cyrus and Datuk Cecil.
Richard Wee Thiam Seng
Loss to the country written by Srimurugan a/l Alagan,
Thursday, September 06 2007 12:14 am
It's a shame that the government has failed to appoint our best legal minds to our judiciary..!
Srimurugan a/l Alagan
WHY LIKE THAT ONE? written by Stephen Tan Ban Cheng,
Thursday, September 06 2007 12:31 am
My dear Wai Loon
There is no question of that fact that both lawyers are experienced and capable. More ... I dare say without fear of contradiction that they are pre-eminent in their field. However, with deep respect, I question their acceptance, if any, of the appointment by a government set up by a military coup.
I thought we have traversed this way before when our former Bar Council president and current LawAsia president Mah Weng Kwai stepped down as a commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Malaysian lawyers, however eminent, however experienced and however capable, should never ever allow themselves to be used to lend legitimacy and respectability to a junta in whatever shape or form. We uphold legalism, constitutionalism and civilian-over-military supremacy. As such we do not believe in a military coup.
Stephen Tan Ban Cheng
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News 
FIJI: Senior Malaysian lawyers Datuk Dr Cyrus Das, 58 and Datuk Cecil
Abraham, 61 have been appointed to the Fiji Court of Appeal by the President,
Ratu Josefa Iloilo, yesterday, 
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May this news strike the "top" judge & "top" politician right on their heads on how they EXERCISED THEIR DISCRETION in appointing judges. It tells us, or rather tells THEM, that there are still very experienced, capable & qualified lawyers around to be chosen for judicial service. Now, foreigners seem to know better on how to value and appreciate our local lawyers, isn't it ironic??
Although there are 2 similar appointments from the Bar almost at the same time, strangely, I feel happy and proud only for this appointment although both of them do not jump straight up to the apex court.
Shim Wai Loon