Mohamed Suffian Mohamed Hashim
Encyclopedia
Tun
Mohamed Suffian Hashim (November 12, 1917–September 26, 2000) was a Malaysian judge, eventually serving as Lord President
of the Federal Court
from 1974 to 1982. He had previously served as Chief Justice of Malaya.
Tun Suffian was born in 1917 in Kota Lama Kiri, a small village on the banks of Sungai Perak near Kuala Kangsar
and went to the Malay School, Lenggong
and Clifford School, Kuala Kangsar, before going to England
on a Queen's scholarship in 1936.
During World War II
, unable to return home from England
because of the Japanese Occupation, he worked as a news broadcaster and commentator with the All-India Radio, New Delhi
, and later with the BBC
in London where he acquired an interest in current affairs and in lucid writing.
Tun Suffian read law at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge before becoming a member of Middle Temple
. He also held an honorary LL.D. from the National University of Singapore
and an honorary D.Litt from University of Malaya
.
Tun Suffian had a long association with the Constitution of Malaysia
, first with its drafting and then with its operation as a member of the Legal Department, and finally with its interpretation from 1961 when he was elevated to the bench of the Federal Court.
He had served as the Pro-Chancellor of University of Malaya
.
In 1975, his outstanding record as a public servant won international recognition in Manila
, the Philippines
, where he received a Magsaysay Award, regarded as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize
.
He died on 26 September 2000 and was laid to rest at the Perak royal mausoleum
near Ubudiah Mosque
in Kuala Kangsar
, Perak
.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Mohamed Suffian Hashim (November 12, 1917–September 26, 2000) was a Malaysian judge, eventually serving as Lord President
Lord President of the Federal Court
The title of Lord President of the Supreme Court was formerly the title of the head of the judiciary in Malaysia, until 1994 when the office was renamed "Chief Justice of the Federal Court"....
of the Federal Court
Courts of Malaysia
The Judiciary of Malaysia is largely centralized despite Malaysia's federal constitution, heavily influenced by the British Common Law and to a lesser extent Islamic law, and is mostly independent from political interference.-History:...
from 1974 to 1982. He had previously served as Chief Justice of Malaya.
Tun Suffian was born in 1917 in Kota Lama Kiri, a small village on the banks of Sungai Perak near Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia, located at the downstream of Kangsar River, where it flows into the Perak River. It is the main town in the administrative district of Kuala Kangsar.-History:...
and went to the Malay School, Lenggong
Lenggong
Lenggong is a town in Perak, Malaysia. It is situated 100 km north of Ipoh.-Introduction:The Lenggong valley in Ulu Perak is one of Peninsular Malaysia's most important areas for archaeology, as excavations have revealed many traces of Malaysia's prehistory. It is the site of the oldest known place...
and Clifford School, Kuala Kangsar, before going to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on a Queen's scholarship in 1936.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, unable to return home from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
because of the Japanese Occupation, he worked as a news broadcaster and commentator with the All-India Radio, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, and later with the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in London where he acquired an interest in current affairs and in lucid writing.
Tun Suffian read law at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge before becoming a member of Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
. He also held an honorary LL.D. from the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
and an honorary D.Litt from University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
.
Tun Suffian had a long association with the Constitution of Malaysia
Constitution of Malaysia
The Federal Constitution of Malaysia, which came into force in 1957, is the supreme law of Malaysia. The Federation was initially called the Federation of Malaya and it adopted its present name, Malaysia, when the States of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined the Federation...
, first with its drafting and then with its operation as a member of the Legal Department, and finally with its interpretation from 1961 when he was elevated to the bench of the Federal Court.
He had served as the Pro-Chancellor of University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
.
In 1975, his outstanding record as a public servant won international recognition in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, where he received a Magsaysay Award, regarded as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
.
He died on 26 September 2000 and was laid to rest at the Perak royal mausoleum
Perak royal mausoleum
The Perak royal mausoleum or Al-Ghufran Royal Cemetery is a royal mausoleum in Malaysia. It is located near Ubudiah Mosque in Kuala Kangsar.-Sultans:*Sultan Ali Al-Mukammal Inayat Shah Sultan Shahabuddin Riayat Shah...
near Ubudiah Mosque
Ubudiah Mosque
Masjid Ubudiah is Perak's royal mosque, and is located in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Malaysia. It is often regarded as Malaysia's most beautiful mosque.-History:...
in Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar
Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia, located at the downstream of Kangsar River, where it flows into the Perak River. It is the main town in the administrative district of Kuala Kangsar.-History:...
, Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
.