SIBU: The demise of Advocate Association of Sarawak (AAS) Sibu Branch chairman Wee Wui Kiat, is a big loss to the Sarawak Bar.

       Wee, 43, fell from Level 26 of a building here on Sept 7 in an apparent suicide.

       Sibu High Court judicial commissioner Christopher Chin Soo Yin in his speech at a reference proceeding for Wee on Friday (Oct 8) said Wee’s death came as a shock to those closest to him.

       The proceedings were organised by AAS (Sibu Branch), with the cooperation from the Sibu Judiciary to honour Wee and his contributions to the Bar.

       "In the face of this we find ourselves questioning why we were not more aware of his mental state," said Chin.

       He added that Wee's death left them feeling at a loss to explain how this could happen.

       Chin remembered Wee, who was married with a young daughter, as a kind and gentle soul who wished no harm on anyone.

       "As a lawyer in Court, I found him to be always courteous and respectful to the bench, and above all, he was also very able to articulate his representation of his clients' cases," he said.

       He also relayed a personal message from the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Datuk Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim who expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the late Wee Wui Kiat.

       Chin ordered that the proceedings be preserved in the archives of the Court and that a copy of which be given to the family of the late Wee and also to the AAS.

       Wee, the eldest son in his family, completed Form 5 at Methodist Secondary School and obtained a scholarship to study in Tuart College, Perth Western Australia in 1995.

       He took up Law in Monash University, Melbourne and graduated in 2000. He was admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor by the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia.

       He returned to Sibu and was called to the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in the state on March 23, 2002.

       In November 2014 he published a book "Malaysian Law on Division of Matrimonial Assets".

       Those suffering from problems can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service at 03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392; Talian Kasih at 15999 or 019-261 5999; Jakim’s (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) family, social and community care centre at 0111-959 8214; and Befrienders Kuala Lumpur at 03-7627 2929 or go to befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia for a full list of numbers nationwide and operating hours, or email sam@befrienders.org.my.