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Former Chief Justice of Malaysia and President of ASEAN Law Association discusses gender equality at fireside chat hosted by NUS Law

July 18, 2025 | Faculty

The Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) at National University of Singapore Faculty of Law (NUS Law) was proud to host Her Excellency Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tengku Mat, the former Chief Justice of Malaysia and the current President of the Asean Law Association (ALA), for a fireside chat held on 10 July. The event centred on the timely and urgent theme, “Justice for All: Advancing Gender Equality in the Law”.

Despite constitutional guarantees and legal reforms, gender continues to shape who has access to justice, whose voices are heard, and whose rights are protected. Against this backdrop, Tun Maimun, who made history as Malaysia’s first female Chief Justice, reflected on the pivotal role of the judiciary in upholding the principle of equality before the law and eliminating gender-based discrimination.

In her conversation with Associate Professor Jaclyn Neo ’03, Director of CALS, Tun Maimun shared her reflections on the significant progress made by the Federal Court in advancing gender equality. She highlighted a notable constitutional development in Malaysia, where the 2001 amendment to the Federal Constitution recognised gender as one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination.

Her Excellency Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tengku Mat, the former Chief Justice of Malaysia and the current President of the Asean Law Association, discussing gender equality with Associate Professor Jaclyn Neo, the Director of the Centre for Asian Legal Studies.

Citing an example from recent jurisprudence, Her Excellency discussed the Lai Hen Beng case, where the court struck down a law that criminalised the enticement of married women by men, on the ground that it constituted gender-based discrimination in violation of Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution.

Tun Maimun also emphasised the importance of judges and legal practitioners remaining vigilant against unconscious gender bias. Regarding the judiciary, she stressed that “judges will always, in whatever circumstances, have to decide cases based on the facts, the evidence, and the law”, noting that these principles help guard against unconscious gender bias. She also reminded legal practitioners of their responsibility to treat clients with respect and dignity, regardless of gender. Her Excellency Tun Maimun further highlighted the importance of instituting professional development programmes, training courses and continuous legal education to address subconscious gender bias.

Speaking on the women’s participation in the Malaysian judiciary, Tun Maimun observed a positive trend, highlighting that five out of 11 Federal Court judges and approximately 40 percent of High Court judges are women. She underscored the need to promote a transparent and merit-based system to foster equality within the profession, as well as the importance of providing a safe working environment for women.

As the President of the ASEAN Law Association, Tun Maimun has taken a significant step towards advancing gender equality and empowering women in the legal profession. She has championed the creation of a Standing Committee for Women in Law, a groundbreaking initiative that underscores her commitment to fostering inclusivity and support within the legal community. Scheduled to launch in September 2025, the Standing Committee will serve as a platform to address the unique challenges faced by women in the legal field. A key feature of this initiative is its mentorship programme, which is designed to provide guidance, support and inspiration to young women pursuing careers in law. By connecting aspiring legal professionals with experienced mentors, the programme aims to nurture talent, build confidence and pave the way for the next generation of women leaders in the legal sphere.

Academics, students, lawyers and representatives from the High Commission of Malaysia and the Supreme Court of Singapore attended the fireside chat on 10 July 2025.

Looking ahead, Tun Maimun expressed hope that the court will maintain public confidence and continue to uphold established jurisprudence that reflects a progressive approach to interpreting the Federal Constitution. She cautioned against a literal reading of the Federal Constitution, reminding that “the Federal Constitution should not be interpreted in the same way as any other statutes” and that the role of the courts in constitutional judicial review is to check on the excesses of power by the legislature and the executive.

Held at NUS Law, the event was attended by over 100 law professionals, including academics, students, lawyers, and representatives from the High Commission of Malaysia and the Supreme Court of Singapore.

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