We are all sinners. We all have committed the biggest sin ever, Apathy. When we were slapped on our right cheek, could we still remain silent or let the other left cheek being slapped?
A great righteous man has left the judiciary, quietly. His heart has died. His heart has died not because of his heart has lost its function but because of the serious internal ‘organ’ failure in the system and the external pressure. Every now and then, I would take out the small little blue booklet which was given to us on 12 June 2002 which starts with the following words:
JUST THE BEGINNING
"You have done your parents and relatives proud for having struggled these past years as to enable your call to the Bar today. Society should be proud too because being learned in the law you will be contributing and serving society rather than a bother. You should also be proud of your achievement since the toil had borne result. Having said that I think I will do you all an injustice if I do not tell you what really lies ahead for you in the legal profession.
I will begin by saying that today is just the beginning of more sweat and toil before you can gain recognition. It has to be more sweat and toil because in law like many other disciplines there are no short cuts. It requires diligence, thoroughness (which means hard work), honesty and integrity, to name just some of the qualities required which incidentally are universally accepted good values.”
The amount of work and contribution towards the profession by this righteous man is indefinite. No man in this system has done as much justice as this man did. He has been done justice in all of his cases and he has been brave to pronounce the truth in his judgment in Sibu. Why can’t we do justice to him in return? Why should he be penalized by doing justice to himself and to his family? Aren’t we supposed to uphold “honestly and integrity” in our profession? If yes, and why there was no “Amen” from the Bar?
His works have changed life, not to mention to those who have escaped from the gallows.
Our destiny will be the same if we continue to live in apathy.
“Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.” Ps 112:6
“The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.” Proverbs 20:7
May the Lord hear our Prayer.
