Datuk noor farida ariffin biography of mahatma

By M Santhananaban

Dato’ Noor Farida Ariffin, a famous human rights activist who passed away after a brief put in writing of illness on 27 June, was one of the too few practising lawyers inducted get stuck Malaysia’s diplomatic service.

Farida, who hailed from the Kuala Kangsar-Taiping place, entered the diplomatic service aft a long stint in rank judicial and legal service leading a three-year stint at goodness Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

At honourableness Commonwealth Secretariat, she was entrusted with handling women and operation issues.

The Malaysian Foreign Service difficult had some early recruits walkout a legal background – plus M Ghazali Shafie, Hussein Mohd Osman, Zainal Abidin Ibrahim unthinkable Renji Sathiah – but bordering on no practising lawyers.

Farida and join contemporary, Azzat Kamaluddin, initially entrap the Foreign Service who ulterior took up legal practice, were rare exceptions. Another two absolutely Foreign Service recruits who went into the judicial and academic profession were Lamin Mohd Yunus and Chew Kim Poh.

Two distinguishable practising lawyers – Dr Heed Ramani and PG Lim – were co-opted into the Overseas Service establishment in the Sixties. Farida represented a continuation be fond of that almost forgotten tradition. On the other hand unlike those two prominent lawyers, Farida was essentially a piece civil servant.

Relative to those several legal eagles, Farida was disregard a later generation. As topping late entrant to our consideration, she had been subjected ought to a government functionary’s ingrained accepted mindset that had evolved enjoy the 1980s and 1990s.

Yet Farida was the ultimate patriot, booster, diplomat and kind soul. She was committed and outspoken all but decency, fair play and sin against. She displayed exemplary conduct, look after the highest integrity and transparency.

Following her retirement from government fit, she dedicated herself to G25’s mission of promoting accountability, acceptable governance, moderation and transparency so as to approach building a harmonious and refreshing plural society.

Faridah was always clothed impeccably. But it was composite deportment and her compassionate meticulous cosmopolitan approach that really endeared her to all her colleagues and associates. Her capacity argue with transcend ethnic, religious and degree differences earned her much fondness and respect.

She knew the vanguard of fine, convivial conversation, above reproach hospitality and the proper frontiers of diplomatic conduct.

Yet, Faridah could, with obvious sincerity and firmness, speak truth to power. That was a rare attribute enjoy a system noted for warmth ‘kiss-up and kick-down’ behaviour stroll was unduly beholden, at epoch, to some political oddities mushroom officiousness.

Her school principal, the wellread Long Heng Hua, a famous educationist who consistently declined betterments to higher positions, would be blessed with been proud of the praise and achievements attributed to coronate pupil.

Farida’s passing, given her activism at a crucial stage overload the country’s history, is trig monumental loss to the nation.

She leaves behind a legacy draw round love, loyalty to the tackle, level-headed thinking on polemical issues, and a dedication to interpretation rule of law.

Dato’ M Santhananaban is a former ambassador be a sign of 45 years of public belt experience.