The Right of Access to Justice: Judicial Discourse in Singapore and Malaysia

The Right of Access to Justice: Judicial
Discourse in Singapore and Malaysia
Gary K Y Chan

Abstract
This is an essay on judicial discourse in Singapore and Malaysia pertaining to the nature and
scope of the right of access to justice, including access to justice for the poor. We will examine
the statements and pronouncements by the Singapore and Malaysia judiciary in case precedents
and extra-judicial statements. Some of the issues explored include the legal status of this right
of access to justice (namely, whether it is a right enshrined in the constitution or merely a right
derived from the common law and whether it is qualified by economic and other interests) and the
associated rights of legal representation, legal aid and contingency fees.
KEYWORDS: access to justice, courts, Malaysia, Singapore
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