Remembering James Low Hong Ping LLM ’17

James Low Hong Ping LLM ’17 was an exemplary constitutional law scholar and disability rights activist from Malaysia. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Malaya (where he topped the class in Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, and Civil Procedure), and was called to the Malaysian Bar in 2016. He was awarded the NUS Graduate Scholarship for ASEAN Nationals and completed his Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law at NUS Law in 2017. Having secured his Masters degree, he taught Constitutional Law at the University of Malaya until 2019, during which time he served as the Managing and Chief Editor of the UM Law Constitution Bulletin. From 2019, he was also Co-Chairperson of the Law Reform Group, Harapan OKU (a coalition of Malaysian disability NGOs).

These sterling achievements are all the more remarkable since James suffered from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disorder characterised by weakness and progressive wasting of the muscles used for movement, and doctors did not expect him to live beyond his teenage years. Not only did James outlive their predictions, he lived his life to the fullest with tenacity and grit, and was in the midst of his PhD studies at NUS Law under the NUS President’s Graduate Fellowship, when he passed away on 27 May 2020 from his condition.

Over the years, the disorder took away his ability to walk, and the loss of strength in his hands, first his left and then his right, meant that he was also unable to write or use the computer keyboard. In secondary school, his older sister helped to type out his assignments while he dictated, and he later discovered an on-screen keyboard that he could control with a mouse. In law school, a lecturer introduced him to dictation software so that he could complete his assignments more quickly, but he still battled with increasing fatigue and tiredness. Despite these physical constraints, James excelled with his sharp intellect and curiosity, incredible discipline, good humour and resilience.

To those who knew him, James was certainly not limited nor defined by his condition. On the contrary, he inspired colleagues and friends with his courage and his zest for life, his passion for the law and disability rights, and most of all, his unwavering faith in God and his deep love for his family who supported him through every step of his journey.

Professor Damian Chalmers, Vice Dean of Research, describes James as “an inspiration not simply for how he addressed life and showed what was possible, but also for the humanity he displayed and offered to others”. He added that James had “enriched the faculty enormously, and his passing is a huge loss”. His PhD supervisor, Associate Professor Jaclyn Neo, shared that “James was the perfect student – motivated, self-disciplined, and intellectually curious. He was on a tremendous trajectory… We have lost a brilliant mind and promising star in constitutional law in Malaysia and Asia. More than that, we have lost a beautiful spirit and an inspiring colleague.”

As a lawyer and scholar, apart from Constitutional Law, he focused on how disability rights were bound by deficiencies in law and sought to transcend the legal shortfalls. As an activist, he strove to change society’s perceptions toward persons with disabilities. As a person with disabilities himself, he was less concerned about what he could not do, but was intent on making the most of his best abilities (his brilliant mind, eloquent speech and articulate writing), thus leaving a legacy of hope and inspiration for others.

The faculty is setting up an LLM Prize named after James, to honour and remember him as a uniquely inspiring colleague, scholar and friend, and this will be awarded each year to the best student in the LLM examinations. This prize will be supported by donations from his friends and colleagues. If you would like to make a contribution to this prize, click here.