It's Easy to Cry by Subhas Anandan

Author:Subhas Anandan
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789814721431
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish International

TWENTY-THREE

CLASH WITH THE LAW SOCIETY

Ten years ago, in 2004, together with a few other lawyers, we formed the Association of Criminal Lawyers, Singapore (ACLS), an organisation set up to look after the interests of criminal lawyers. We did this as we felt that the Law Society was not doing enough. We started with around 100 members and I was elected the first President of the Association.

When Chan Sek Keong became the Chief Justice of Singapore, he asked Bala Reddy, who was the first Community Court Judge, to see if he could get the ACLS to send volunteers to help those who were not represented by lawyers. Bala Reddy, who is an old friend, called me to convey the Chief Justice’s request. He asked, “Would you help?” I replied, “Sure, we would like to help especially in the Community Courts where they deal with teenage delinquents and mentally challenged individuals.” In a matter of time, ACLS was doing a better job than the Law Society’s Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) which also provided free services.

The Law Society President at the time was Wong Meng Meng. I did not like his arrogance but I admire him for being a brilliant lawyer and for his unwavering principles although I do not agree with them. He stood by his principles and defended them however much you criticised him; and in that sense, I like his courage.

Once, an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting was held to pass a ‘No Confidence Vote’ against him and the Council of the Law Society. This clash came about because during a trial session in the High Court, a member of the Law Society had produced a letter from the psychiatrist of M Ravi, another lawyer, casting doubts on his ability to practise because of a relapse of his bipolar disorder. No action was taken against the member for his unethical conduct. We wanted Wong Meng Meng to be removed as President. He said that he didn’t have to step down. He would show by his conduct that he was not biased. While the arguments were going on, many of us spoke for his removal. At the same time, there were others who spoke in support of him.

The clash between Wong Meng Meng and me led to dire consequences. The newspapers got out of hand, publishing all sorts of stories. One day at a function, Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong saw me and said, “You know, Subhas, I don’t care who is wrong or who is right. This war in the newspapers must stop.” When I tried to explain to him, he said, “No, please, I am not interested in any explanation. There shouldn’t be anymore bad references that allow the public to have a bad image of the legal fraternity.” He walked away after saying that.

I looked at him and thought, “Here is the Chief Justice who seems to be more interested in keeping the newspapers away than finding out what is the root cause of the problem between me and the Law Society President who happens to be his good friend.

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