The Malaysian Bar salutes Tan Sri Siti Norma and wishes her a happy retirement.
PUTRAJAYA: The nation's first woman High Court Judge, Court of Appeal
Judge, Federal Court Judge and later the Chief Judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Dato'
Siti Norma Binti Yaakob will retire tomorrow after 43 years of exemplary
service. She took over from Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor as the Chief Judge of
Malaya on February 7 last year.
Tan Sr Siti Norma was born on July 6, 1940 in Seremban,
Negeri Sembilan. She had her early education at Malay School Rahang, Convent of
the Holy Infant Jesus and King George V, Seremban. In 1962 she studied law in
London and obtained the Degree of Barrister–At–Law from the Honourbale Society of Gray's
Inn and Certificate in Public International Law in Post–Finals Course, conducted
by Council of Legal Education, London.
Tan Sri Siti Norma was also honoured with Johan Setia Mahkota (JSM) and Panglima
Mangku Negara (PMN) by His
Majesty the King of Malaysia in 1978 and 2005 respectively, and Dato' Setia Negeri Sembilan (DSNS) by
His Royal Highness the Ruler of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus on July 19, 1987.
She is married to a Mining Consultant, Datuk Seri Meor Ayob bin Mior Shaffie and they have
three children and six grandchildren.
Prior to her appointment as the Chief Judge of Malaya, she had also served as Senior Assistant Registrar, High Court, Kuala Lumpur (15.06.63 – 31.12.65); President, Sessions Court, Kuala Lumpur (01.01.66 – 31.12.68); Senior Federal Counsel, Attorney General's Chambers, Kuala Lumpur (01.01.69 – 31.08.69): Deputy Public Trustee, Malaysia (01.09.69 – 31.10.70); Assistant Senior Director (Estate Duty), Income Tax Department (01.11.70 – 30.11.73); President, Sessions Court, Kuala Lumpur (01.12.73 – 31.05.80); Chief Registrar, Federal Court, Malaysia (01.06.80 – 03.04.83); Judge High Court, Malaya (04.04.83 – 16.09.94: Civil Division of the Kuala Lumpur High Court from 1983 – 1987; Commercial Division from 1988 – February 1994 and the Appellate and Special Powers Division from March 1, 1994 – September 16, 1994) and Judge, Court Of Appeal Malaysia (17.09.94 – 31.12.00).
On January 1, 2001, Tan Sri Siti Norma was elevated to the Federal Court, then being the first and only woman judge in Malaysia to reach the apex court.
At her elevation as the Chief Judge, the then Bar Council
Chairman Datuk Kuthubul
Zaman Bukhari said the appointment was very much welcomed and "very good for the
judiciary" as she was well–known for her commitment and judicial independence.
Tan Sri Siti Norma is also the current President of the Commonwealth
Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association, again the first Malaysian to be elected to
the post. She will hold this post until the association's next elections in 2009
and it is understood that the association has nominated Malaysia to host its
next conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2009, and if convened here, it would be the first to be held in an
Asian country.
Tan Sri Siti Norma's other accolades include the Women Development Institute Fellowship in 1988, an International award as an Eisenhower Exchange Fellow in 1990, and the “Anugerah Nur Gemilang 2001 – Guaman” in 2001 jointly awarded by the Ministry of Women and Family Development and the Association of Women Graduates Malaysia.
Once asked about what would be the values of a good judge, Tan Sri Siti Norma mentioned "patience and incorruptibility". This, many lawyers who have appeared before her will testify to the fact that Tan Sri Siti Norma indeed possesses such values, and she will be solely missed on the bench.
As the Chief Judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Siti Norma has been very supportive of the activities of the Malaysian Bar, making every effort to attend all our functions.
When contacted, the President of the Malaysian Bar, Yeo Yang Poh thanks Tan Sri Siti Norma for her cooperation during her tenure, and hopes that there will be many more Chief Judges like her in the future.
The Malaysian Bar salutes Tan Sri Siti Norma and wishes her a happy retirement.
Members may post their greetings below.