Malaysia's First Female Syariah High Court Judge On Tough Decisions & Gender Equality

A monumental decision by the state of Selangor's Syariah Court in 2016 set Nenney Shuhaidah Shamsuddin's life in an entirely unexpected direction. The soft-spoken former lawyer tells us her story and her goal to change negative perceptions about Syariah Law in Malaysia.

While many of us long to be part of the moment when history is made, one lawyer actually found herself right in the centre of one such momentous occasion.

In June of 2016, Nenney Shuhaidah Shamsuddin was appointed as the nation’s first female Syariah High Court Judge, one of only 2 women to attain such status in the state of Selangor, where female judges in the Syariah Court have typically only been appointed to the Lower Courts.

Above "I wanted to be able to help poorer people in society who couldn't afford to pay legal fees." -- Nenney Shuhaidah Shamsuddin. (Photo: Khairul Imran / Malaysia Tatler)

A New Phase

If the news of Nenney’s appointment didn’t come as a shock to her colleagues in the Legal Aid Department of Selangor, where she worked for 5 years, the impact it left in her own life was nothing short of transformational.

“My ambition was always to be a lawyer,” Nenney shares. “I wanted to be able to help poorer people in society who couldn’t afford to pay legal fees.”

Nenney’s strong sense of empathy and social responsibility eventually earned her the attention of the world when she was included in the BBC 100 Women List in 2018 alongside trailblazers and change-makers from over 60 countries, including prominent figures like former Australian PM Julia Gillard, physicist and Nobel Prize winner Donna Strickland, Chelsea Clinton and many others.

The only Malaysian to be featured and one of 13 women from Asia to be included, Nenney’s consistent efforts to protect the rights of Muslim women earned her this prestigious recognition.

“Of course, people will say, ‘there has to be a difference with female judges: they’ll be more sympathetic to women’; but I see no difference between a female and male judge,” Nenney says. “A judge follows the rules and the law. Also, in Syariah, a judge is accountable to Allah.

“We understand that if we make decisions unfairly or favour those in the wrong, we will bear the consequences of it in the afterlife.”

Above BBC 100 Women features prominent and inspiring individuals from around the world . (Photo: BBC 100 Women/Facebook)

In court, she hears as many as 16 to 20 cases per day and strives to uphold the sanctity of children’s rights alongside those of men and women.

“As individuals, we sometimes don’t take the initiative to know what our rights are. Today, many government programmes and NGOs have been active in teaching women about their rights and responsibilities.

“It must start with education itself: students must be exposed to the correct information about their human rights. We can’t just empower women, but we need to empower our men as well, and remind them to honour their responsibilities as husbands and fathers,” shares Nenney.

So how does one manage under the pressure of knowing that each decision and judgement passed will affect another’s life forever?

“I listen to each and every case carefully, handle the tough cases delicately and judge as fairly as I can, without personal bias or opinion.”

Above Photo: Khairul Imran / Malaysia Tatler

A mother of 3 young children, Nenney admits that her personality is entirely different outside of court. A gentle smile lifts the serious expression on her face as she shares that she hasn’t taken a single case file back home in the 3 years she’s worked in the Syariah Court.

“I don’t mix work with family matters. When I’m home, I’m a mother and a wife.

“Similarly, if my kids ask to come to my office, I gently tell them no. I always remind them that my role is difficult, my responsibility is heavy, and I must focus my attention on my decisions without distractions.”

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I want people—men, women and children—to know that they can rely on the Shariah Court to honour their rights without prejudice or stigma.

- Nenney Shuhaidah Shamsuddin -

Above Photo: Khairul Imran / Malaysia Tatler

Nenney’s ultimate goal is to turn around negative perceptions of Syariah Law and the Syariah court in Malaysia and leave behind a significantly positive impact in the hopes of paving the way for more junior female judges to follow in her steps.

“To me, it’s simple: a judge’s personality, knowledge and experience have more of an effect on their decision than their gender does.

“I’m optimistic that one day society will see no difference between males and females when it comes to being a judge in Syariah Court.”

To read more, pick up a copy of our June 2019 issue out at newsstands, or click here to purchase the digital copy of the magazine.

Credits

Photography

Khairul Imran

Make-Up

Shallee Ping

Location

The Syariah High Court of Selangor

Topics

nenney shuhaidah shamsuddin bbc 100 women 2018 lawyers women syariah law gender equality

Tatler Asia

Malaysia's First Female Syariah High Court Judge On Tough Decisions & Gender Equality

A New Phase