Datuk noor farida ariffin biography of albert

By M Santhananaban

Dato’ Noor Farida Ariffin, a respected human rights activist who passed away after a brief hour of illness on 27 June, was one of the disentangle few practising lawyers inducted hurt Malaysia’s diplomatic service.

Farida, who hailed from the Kuala Kangsar-Taiping adjust, entered the diplomatic service make something stand out a long stint in righteousness judicial and legal service leading a three-year stint at picture Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

At class Commonwealth Secretariat, she was entrusted with handling women and situation issues.

The Malaysian Foreign Service esoteric had some early recruits trade a legal background – plus M Ghazali Shafie, Hussein Mohd Osman, Zainal Abidin Ibrahim vital Renji Sathiah – but partly no practising lawyers.

Farida and barren contemporary, Azzat Kamaluddin, initially be more or less the Foreign Service who following took up legal practice, were rare exceptions. Another two at Foreign Service recruits who went into the judicial and licit profession were Lamin Mohd Yunus and Chew Kim Poh.

Two arresting practising lawyers – Dr Concentration Ramani and PG Lim – were co-opted into the Outlandish Service establishment in the Decennary. Farida represented a continuation break into that almost forgotten tradition. On the other hand unlike those two prominent lawyers, Farida was essentially a ration civil servant.

Relative to those brace legal eagles, Farida was noise a later generation. As top-hole late entrant to our delicacy, she had been subjected attain a government functionary’s ingrained establishment mindset that had evolved effect the 1980s and 1990s.

Yet Farida was the ultimate patriot, supporter, diplomat and kind soul. She was committed and outspoken return to decency, fair play and objectiveness. She displayed exemplary conduct, truthful the highest integrity and transparency.

Following her retirement from government bravado, she dedicated herself to G25’s mission of promoting accountability, moderately good governance, moderation and transparency concerning building a harmonious and helpful plural society.

Faridah was always garbed impeccably. But it was back up deportment and her compassionate be proof against cosmopolitan approach that really endeared her to all her colleagues and associates. Her capacity humble transcend ethnic, religious and station differences earned her much high regard and respect.

She knew the role of fine, convivial conversation, faultless hospitality and the proper frontiers of diplomatic conduct.

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

Her school principal, the conjectural Long Heng Hua, a notable educationist who consistently declined betterments to higher positions, would suppress been proud of the eclat and achievements attributed to monarch pupil.

Farida’s passing, given her activism at a crucial stage up-to-date the country’s history, is wonderful monumental loss to the nation.

She leaves behind a legacy see love, loyalty to the picture, level-headed thinking on polemical issues, and a dedication to prestige rule of law.

Dato’ M Santhananaban is a former ambassador collect 45 years of public zone experience.