2026 ST Lee Lecture

Judicial independence in modern society: The Malaysian experience

Join us for the 2026 ST Lee Lecture by Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Malaysia’s first female Chief Justice, as she shares her firsthand insights into the evolution of judicial independence in the country. Drawing on decades of experience in the judiciary, she will reflect on the challenges, milestones, and reforms that have shaped Malaysia’s legal landscape.

This is a rare opportunity to hear from a leading figure in Malaysian law on the crucial role of an independent judiciary in upholding democracy and safeguarding fundamental rights.

About the speaker:

Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat was Malaysia’s first female Chief Justice, appointed in 2019 and retired in July 2025. She holds a law degree from the University of Malaya and was called to the Bar in 1995. She was appointed to the Superior Court Bench in 2006, elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2013, and to the Federal Court in 2018, before being appointed Chief Justice in 2019. As Chief Justice, following Malaysia’s first regime change in 2018, she presided over several landmark rulings, including the conviction of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, decisions upholding the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, and reaffirming the illegality of unilateral child conversion. Her tenure reinforced public confidence in the rule of law, constitutional supremacy, and judicial integrity in Malaysia.

Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat is holder of the Royal Chair in Integrity and Good Governance and Professor of Practice at the Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

About the ST Lee Lecture on Asia and the Pacific:

The ST Lee Lecture series was established following an endowment from Dr Seng Tee Lee (ST Lee) of the Lee Foundation in Singapore. It supports an annual lecture that provides the opportunity for a distinguished figure from the Asia Pacific to speak on developments or trends in the region.

This is an in-person only event.
Registration is essential as seating is strictly limited.

Agenda

Reception 5.30-6pm
Lecture 6-7pm

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