E Contrario

Picture of Christopher Fernando during Anwar trial. Christopher passed away in IJN at about 3 morning on 19 January.

The news of Christopher Fernando had a heart attack was totally unexpected. In my impression he was rather healthy.

Like most people, I knew Chris from Anwar case. Chris had cheerful and optimistic personality. He was firmly confident that God always stand on the side of the just. I will always remember his encouragement. In those difficult years, I had never seen him shown any sign of despairs or frustration, at most he would frown and said “this is terrible, how could they…?”

During the trial, the public was beguiled by his eloquent performance in exposing the contradictions of the prosecution. The news on Anwar’s defence had been keenly read by the public. The people must have digested Christopher’s argument almost word by word, day in day out, and developed with their own verdict on Anwar.

Without any doubt, Christopher enjoyed a ‘cult-like’ following among the reformists and Anwarista. He was also one of the popular icons of Reformasi era.

We in KeADILan had been keenly urged him to contest in general election. His work and activities were based in Seremban and naturally he would be a good choice for the seat.

However he was reluctant to be a politician. Anwar tried to persuade him to stand for parliament and to bring his struggle to defend justice to a new level. He replied: “You (Anwar) seriously want me to be in parliament?”

Anwar answered: “Sure,…”

“Make me a senator then!”

This was Chris’ sense of humour. I believe if he were to be alive, all of us would be able to bring him into the ring for the political battle.

This morning at the funeral, I also heard from Shankar Nair that Chris was the leader of Judicial and Legal Sevice Officer’s Association (JALSOA) and his fight was to free magistrate and session court from the purview of AG. This got him on the bad book of Abu Talib, and he eventually quit to join the legal practice.

Many at the funeral said, the legal fraternity has lost a good lawyer—one who was very committed to defend impartiality and integrity of the justice system. And I lost a good friend.

But Christoper should be remembered more than as a lawyer. He had reserved himself in the history of transformation in our country.