I AM still trying to come to terms with the sudden passing of my friend and political partner Datuk VK Liew. He was a committed reformer.
Reforming the criminal system was top of his priorities as law minister as he believed in rehabilitation and that everyone deserved a second chance.
This was evident from his efforts in moving for prison reform to make it more rehabilitative than punitive.
He also was passionate about reforming our drug laws and the protection of women and children. Again, to protect the weakest and to ensure that even the worst of us could be rehabilitated and given another chance to contribute to society.
Ensuring a more comprehensive Freedom of Information Act was also something he worked hard at despite the political pressures from within the government.
VK was one of those lawmakers who had a unique combination of quiet strength, sensibility and compassion.
He had the ability to sway support based on articulated and informed arguments not grandstanding rhetoric.
His passing at the young age of 60 is a great loss to the nation as we lost a great advocate for justice and fairness. And I have lost a friend.
We will miss him, but the best tribute we can pay to VK is to carry the torch he has passed to us to carry on with his efforts to make Malaysia a more justiciable, fair and inclusive nation. – October 3, 2020
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is opposition leader and PKR president.
