Malaysia's Legal Pioneer Siti Norma Yaakob Passes Away at 85

Siti Norma Yaakob, a trailblazer in Malaysia's legal field, passed away on September 13 in Kuala Lumpur due to pneumonia at the age of 85. According to Ming Pao, Siti Norma was born on July 6, 1940, and throughout her over 40-year career, she broke numerous barriers in the judiciary. She became Malaysia's first female judge in the High Court in 1983, the Court of Appeal in 1994, and the Federal Court in 2001. In 2004, she was appointed as the first female Chief Judge of Malaya, the third highest position in Malaysia's judiciary, and assumed office the following year. The Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia recognized her for many landmark rulings, which have become significant references in the legal field.