Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has paid a glowing tribute to the late Gopal Sri Ram, describing the former apex court judge as a towering figure in Malaysia’s legal landscape.
Wan Farid, who was appointed Malaysia’s top judge last month, said Sri Ram was a man of sharp intellect who had unwavering principles and fearless independence.
He said the contributions of Sri Ram, who was also a senior deputy public prosecutor, to the judiciary and rule of law remain unparalleled.
“It is both a privilege and a profound honour to stand before you today as we launch this remarkable book that celebrates the extraordinary judicial legacy of the late Sri Ram,” he said at the launch of the book “Quintessential Gopal Sri Ram” at a hotel here today, which coincided with his 82nd birthday.
Sri Ram died on Jan 29, 2023.
The book, published by Thomson Reuters, is a commentary and reflection by scholars, lawyers and judges on selected judgments that the former Federal Court judge had left an indelible mark on.
Sri Ram had written about 800 judgments while on the bench between 1994 and 2010.
Wan Farid said Sri Ram was not just a judge but a friend and teacher to him, recounting a personal encounter with the latter which had left a lasting impression on him.
Having started as a lawyer in 1986, he said he had met Sri Ram in Kuala Terengganu a few months before the latter’s elevation to the Court of Appeal in September 1994.
“My client insisted we needed a good team and specifically mentioned Sri Ram. Of course, that, in effect, meant that I was not good enough,” he quipped.
Wan Farid recalled a discussion with Sri Ram in which his client pointedly asked: “Encik Sri Ram, with this amount of fees that I am paying you, can you guarantee success?”
Sri Ram then replied crisply: “I am not an insurance company in the business of guaranteeing anything”.
Nevertheless, Wan Farid said, the client managed to obtain the interlocutory injunction he had sought before the High Court.
“What amazed me was Sri Ram’s grasp of the law and his ability to remember the citations of reported cases,” he said.
Wan Farid said Sri Ram’s down-to-earth approach and genuine concern for ordinary Malaysians on the street also shone through in his many judicial pronouncements.
This is reflected in the case of Lam Eng Rubber Factory (M) Sdn Bhd vs Pengarah Alam Sekitar, Negeri Kedah Dan Perlis & Anor, where the judge had expressed disappointment with the government body’s failure to reply to letters from the public.
“To the legal fraternity, he was a force of legal brilliance, integrity and courage. His judgments were masterclasses in reasoning, his words carried the weight of justice, and his unwavering commitment to the rule of law sets a standard that continues to inspire,” said Wan Farid.
