A Fit and Proper Person

My children made me cry. Again. Twice within a week, tears filled my eyes as I sat watching my two daughters from the sidelines as a spectator in the journey of their lives.... 

The one I least expected to follow in my footsteps my no 2 "sweetheart" Sha-Lyn looked so prim and proper in the mandatory black white ensemble required of a lawyer. She stood at the side of the court, holding her robes, as the mover of her call read her petition to be admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya. He had an excellent voice telling the story of her journey into law. But all I could think of was how my husband must be looking down from heaven, smiling and clapping his hands. That was when the tears came unbidden, they flowed even more as her mover read off the last line of her petition dedicating her call to her father. She and I were obviously on the same wave-length, though I didn't know the contents of the petition she had prepared.

Sitting in the public gallery brought back a flood of memories of my own call some 30 years ago,and the subsequent time spent in legal practice, moving in the hallowed halls of justice. At that time, the 'hallowed halls' of the Jalan Duta Courts were just a row of wooden buildings. I remember... how careful the ladies had to be in their high heels, climbing up planks which passed off as stairs... the Bar Room where I used to hang out to drink coffee with 'august members of the profession' after finishing off my cases for the day. My daughter's chamber Master laughed as I mentioned it, and told me those were the days because it's no longer the same now. Indeed the court complex is now so modern and huge; I got lost trying to find my way to the right court. When I asked a lawyer hurrying past me where it was, he said he didn't know either, and that he got lost all the time too.... I hope he was just joking; if I had a case, I wouldn't like my lawyer to get lost in court. 

There were 9 others getting called together with my daughter. At the end of the presentation of each petition, the judge would issue order in terms to the effect that So-and-So is deemed a fit and proper person to be admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya, after which the Master would robe his/her pupil. signifying the person as henceforth a 'professional' lawyer. Hearing the solemn pronouncement and watching the repeated robing, I found myself wondering what's really a 'fit and proper person'? Of course, as far as a call is concerned, it simply means one has fulfilled all the legal requirements for admission and there are no attendant objections from interested parties like the Bar Council or the AG's Chambers. So it's really quite an automatic thing. 

But what struck me was the presiding judge's exhortation after all were duly admitted. She addressed them pointedly that although they are duty-bound to advance client's interests, but as members of the legal profession, they are first and foremost officers of the court to stand for justice. With that she lifted what would have passed of as just another ritualistic proceeding into something more meaningful . Justice - that's inspiring. And sadly lacking in today's world. 

The thought was still with me when I witnessed my eldest princess Su-Lyn take her turn 

receiving the Suhakam award for human rights in the Media category. Her opinion pieces in the online news portal she is attached to has always been ... well, opinionated. And true to form, her acceptance speech contained no gracious thank-you's nor referenced the impact of any other human being in her life. Instead it was a lambasting of a government which she termed tyrannical insecure and suppressive of human rights. I can understand her anger, which surely is shared by many who also decry the state of affairs in our nation. That doesn't mean I agree with all her views or her methods. Certainly I salute her boldness in fighting for what she believes to be right. But as I watched her up on stage, I was actually thinking something quite irrelevant...I remembered how I had always wanted to be a journalist because I love to write. Indeed I had started out as one until 'forced' to quit at the insistence of my father when I got accepted into law school, which as it turned out wasn't a bad thing at all.

That was some 30 odd years ago. Now not 1, but both daughters are walking down the same paths that I took. I look at them, fully grown-up women, both positioned to make an impact in this world for their generation, to stand for justice, truth and righteousness. I should be rejoicing at their achievements, and I do. 

Still I wonder what makes up a 'fit and proper person'? Is it just someone who practices the rule of law or goes all out to fight for human rights? One daughter has qualified as a lawyer sworn to the cause of justice, another was voted as an upholder of human freedom. I guess that's a pretty good start to being 'fit and proper' persons of society. 

But deep inside, I'd rather my children be considered fit and proper persons in the eyes of God than be heaped with all the fancy awards and rewards of this world.  The mother in me cries, because the greatest thing in my children's lives shouldn't be about how many awards they get, how much money they earn, how clever they are, or even how much "good" they can do, giving back to society as 'fit and proper'. I applaud their achievements, but I would give up my own life in exchange for them to understand that being a fit and proper person begins with knowing their Creator who is the ultimate source of all justice, truth and righteousness, who put the desire for such ideals into  human hearts in the first place, and who has chosen and qualified them to bring to pass what has always been upon God's heart for humanity. If they catch this, they don't need any awards or rewards from man. They will still be fit and proper persons when the accolades fade away.

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” - Jeremiah 9:23-24