KUALA LUMPUR (June 19): Former chief justice Tun Zaki Azmi says many of the most difficult decisions he faced throughout his career ultimately came down to a simple question: "Berani ke tak berani?" (Are you brave enough or not?)
The remark came at the close of the inaugural Tun Zaki Azmi Lecture Series, an event organised to discuss leadership, governance, and stewardship through the lens of Zaki's public service career rather than to celebrate the man himself. The event was organised by the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC).
"You (Securities Commission Malaysia executive chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi) use the word encouragement [as a form of leadership]. I use 'berani'. People always ask me this question. My answer is: 'Berani ke tak berani?'" he said briefly towards the end of the event.
Zaki, who is the son of former Lord President Tun Azmi Mohamed, succeeded former CJ Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad in 2008. Zaki served as Malaysia's eighth CJ from 2008 to 2011, and later chaired the courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), making him among the few jurists to have led two separate judicial institutions.
During Zaki and Hamid’s time, the judiciary was still faced with the notion of what is now known as the Royal Commission of Inquiry over the Lingam video clip over allegations of judiciary fixing.
On Friday, SC executive chairman Faiz, who had previously worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers before moving into leadership roles in the corporate and regulatory sectors, said he first came to know Zaki when the latter chaired the audit committee of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS).
Zaki recalled that period as one in which he frequently asked questions to better understand technical accounting matters due to his legal background.
Zaki’s leadership driven by courage and conviction, says Faiz
Earlier in the event, Faiz also cited that many lawyers would not even contemplate becoming a judge, while Zaki went on to become the CJ in Malaysia and later headed the DIFC courts in Dubai.
Drawing from his own experiences in the corporate and regulatory sectors, the lawyer-turned-accountant said courage was an essential leadership quality, particularly when leaders are required to make "unpopular decisions or challenge established practices".
"If you don't have the courage and conviction in what you think is right, you will end up being less respected," Faiz said during a dialogue session. He added that leadership often involves balancing competing interests without compromising ethical principles.
Referring to reforms introduced during Zaki's tenure in the judiciary, he said meaningful change often requires leaders to confront resistance to new ideas. "It's very difficult to get things done if people don't buy into what you are trying to do."
Among those present at the inaugural lecture were former chief justice Tun Md Raus Sharif, former Federal Court judge Tan Sri James Foong Cheng Yuen, Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais, and AIAC Court of Arbitration President Datuk Mary Lim Thiam Suan.