The March for Justice, organized in 2007 by Ambiga Sreenevasan in Malaysia’s administrative capital, mobilized hundreds to demand judicial reform and investigate systemic corruption. This pivotal moment marked her tenure as the second woman to lead the Malaysian Bar Council, cementing her role as a central figure in the nation’s legal and human rights landscape.
Early Education and Career
Born in 1956 in Seremban, Sreenevasan attended Convent Bukit Nanas in Kuala Lumpur, where she served as head prefect in 1975. She pursued legal studies at the University of Exeter, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1979. In 1980, she was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn. She commenced her practice as an advocate and solicitor in March 1982 and eventually established the firm Sreenevasan, Advocates & Solicitors as a founding partner.
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Sreenevasan served as president of the Malaysian Bar Council from 2007 to 2009. During this term, she collaborated with international organizations, including LAWASIA, the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, and Transparency International-Malaysia, to establish a panel that reviewed the 1988 judicial crisis. This report set a precedent for future inquiries into government abuses of power. Her commitment to legal rights also included service on the Bar Council Special Committee regarding the Orang Asli people and the executive committee of the Women’s Aid Organisation.
Public Rallies and Election Reform
As the co-chairperson of Bersih, Sreenevasan spearheaded efforts for free and fair elections. She led the Bersih 2.0 rally in July 2011, which drew 20,000 participants in Kuala Lumpur to highlight concerns regarding electoral integrity and institutional independence. She later led the Bersih 3.0 rally in 2015. Following a 2012 defamation case involving the New Straits Times, the High Court ordered the publisher to pay damages after admitting that allegations linking Bersih to foreign-funded plots to destabilize the government were false.
Honours and International Appointments
In recognition of her work, Sreenevasan received the International Women of Courage Award in 2009 and the Legion of Honour in 2011. Domestically, she was awarded the Darjah Dato' Paduka Mahkota Perak in 2008, carrying the title Dato'. Her academic and professional contributions were further acknowledged in 2011 with an honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Exeter. In 2018, she received an appointment to the International Commission of Jurists.
Fast facts
- Born: 1956, Seremban, Malaysia
- Education: Convent Bukit Nanas, University of Exeter
- Profession: Lawyer and human rights defender
- Bar Council Presidency: 2007–2009
- 2009 Award: International Women of Courage Award
- 2011 Award: Legion of Honour
- 2018 Appointment: International Commission of Jurists
- Religion: Hinduism
Questions readers ask
What was the result of the 2012 defamation case involving Ambiga Sreenevasan?
High Court Justice Lee Heng Cheong ordered the New Straits Times Press to pay damages to Sreenevasan and other plaintiffs after the newspaper issued an apology admitting their article on a supposed conspiracy was false.
What was the significance of the 2008 panel Sreenevasan helped establish?
The panel, which reviewed the 1988 judicial crisis, produced the first report of its kind, establishing a precedent for organisations to independently inquire into abuses of power.
