Justice Denied Twice: When Court Orders Are Ignored

 

Yesterday I wrote about how law and justice are not the same. Today, I want to show how that gap plays out in real life. A High Court order was made — compensation of RM3,000 was awarded. Yet the judgment sits unenforced, because plaintiffs must pay lawyers for every letter, every application, every procedural step.

This is justice denied twice: first when the wrong is committed, and again when enforcement becomes a burden too heavy for ordinary citizens. The system protects the wrongdoer with delay and cost, while the plaintiffs are punished for seeking fairness.

What makes this worse is when the wrongdoer is a teacher. Teachers are entrusted with shaping young minds. They should lead by example. Ignoring a court order undermines not only the justice system but also the moral authority of the classroom.

 

We must ask:

 

·        Why does enforcement of a clear judgment require more fees than the judgment itself?

·        Why should ordinary Malaysians bear the cost of chasing compliance?

·        How can students respect rules when their teachers do not?

 

Justice is not just about winning in court. It is about whether judgments are respected outside it. Until enforcement is made accessible, law will remain a jealous mistress — demanding endless fees, while justice slips further away.