The life and legacy of a pioneer, polymath and mentor

A book examining the remarkable life and legacy of Dr Yong Pung How was launched at SMU on 11 April 2024. Dr Yong was a Malayan-born Singaporean judge who served as the second Chief Justice of Singapore between 1990 and 2006. After stepping down as Chief Justice, Dr Yong served as the Chancellor of SMU between 2010 and 2015. On 11 April 2021, SMU renamed the School of Law to include Dr Yong Pung How's name as a recognition for his founding contributions to the University.

The book, titled Pioneer, Polymath and Mentor – The life and legacy of Yong Pung How was written, compiled, and edited by Justice Andrew Phang, who is presently a Senior Judge as well as Distinguished Professor at the SMU Yong Pung How School of Law.

Published by Academy Publishing, the 510-page book describes and honours Dr Yong’s legacy across 10 chapters.

In addition to eight chapters written by Justice Phang, the book features contributions from more than 70 individuals – in particular, former Justices’ Law Clerks, as well as past and present members of the SMU leadership team. There is also a chapter written by Mr Freddy Orchard, former Director of Economics at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and Government of Singapore Investment Corporation.

More than 400 distinguished guests, including many from the Judiciary and the legal fraternity, as well as friends and family of the former Chief Justice gathered at SMU to celebrate the launch. Then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was Guest of Honour and officiated at the event.

Other eminent guests included Ms Yong Ying-I, daughter of Dr Yong Pung How; Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon; Ministers K Shanmugam, Edwin Tong and Desmond Lee; members of the Judiciary; as well as SMU Board of Trustees, faculty, and students.

A legacy that transformed Singapore’s Judicial system

In his address at the event, Prime Minister Lee, who penned the Foreword of the book, referred to Dr Yong as a pioneer leader who made decisive contributions to Singapore across both the public and private sectors. “His illustrious career spanned many of Singapore’s key institutions, in whose creation and subsequent development he played an outsized role,” he said.

“His service to our nation has benefitted generations of Singaporeans, even to this day.”

Over his tenure, Dr Yong’s work resulted in tightened case management and modernised court processes. He also championed the use of technology to improve efficiency and built capacity by expanding the Bench and setting up specialist courts. He also introduced the Senior Counsel scheme to recognise our most skilled advocates, and to spur young lawyers to strive for excellence.

“Dr Yong’s labours transformed our judicial system and brought it into the 21st Century. Within a decade of his becoming Chief Justice, Singapore’s legal system was rated the best in Asia, and recognised as being among the top in the world, ahead of most OECD countries. He was indeed a transformative Chief Justice,” Prime Minister Lee added.

Chief Justice Menon said that Dr Yong was one of those rare individuals whose immense influence on our systems and institutions, and on the history of our nation, was matched by his profound impact on each of the many lives he touched.

“It is clear from these tributes that Dr Yong was so much more than their first boss; he was also an inspiration, a guide, and a father figure in their journey through the law and through life itself.”

Setting the tone for SMU’s Yong Pung How School of Law

In her speech, SMU President, Professor Lily Kong, said that the pivotal role and leadership from Dr Yong during SMU’s nascent years and in establishing SMU's law school cannot be overstated.

“As the Founding Chairman of the advisory board of SMU School of Law, Dr Yong led its establishment, set the tone for what it would stand for, and shaped the curriculum to deliver on a clear and firm vision,” she stated.

“He also played a central role in recruiting and retaining top-tier faculty. Such is the strong foundation upon which our law school has been built and continues to grow in global society. Holding fast to his beliefs, the law school’s curricula situated legal knowledge and skills within broader reputation.”

Dr Yong’s strong conviction and enduring values shaped the ethos of the law school. “He appreciated – perhaps before most – that the law must operate within the fabric of societal dynamics and gives due consideration to the forces of globalisation and technological disruptions.”

Prof Kong also extolled Dr Yong’s beliefs in the importance of harnessing technology, which are reflected in the reforms he implemented in Singapore’s court system.

“In the same pioneering spirit, SMU’s law school has boldly integrated technology into legal research as well as education.”

See also Prime Minister Lee launches memoir on Yong Pung How at SMU | SMU Newsroom.

The book, published by Academy Publishing, is available for purchase at https://store.lawnet.com/.