It is with great sadness that we record that Chew Swee Yoke, formerly the sole proprietor of Messrs S Y Chew & Co. in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, passed away on 18 Aug 2026.
Chew Swee Yoke was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1970, and was a Member of the Bar until 2021.
Chew Swee Yoke served as a Council member from 1977 to 1985. She served as Chairperson of the Legal Aid Subcommittee from 1982 to 1983, and Chairperson of the Legal Aid Committee from 1983 to 1986. Under her leadership, as well as the efforts of like-minded Members with a heart for legal aid, the Legal Aid Scheme was established in 1982, and under this Scheme, a dedicated Legal Aid Centre finally came to fruition on 2 Aug 1982. Chew Swee Yoke headed the Legal Aid Centre in Kuala Lumpur, which was then housed in the Industrial Court. She is recognised as one of the pioneers of legal aid in Malaysia.
Chew Swee Yoke also served as Co-Chairperson of the Bar Council Environment and Climate Change Committee from 2011 to 2014.
She was part of the legal team that represented Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in proceedings from the black-eye incident in 1998 while he was in police custody.
The Malaysian Bar extends its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to her family members and loved ones.