M N Swamy
IHFS – Excellence Award For Legal / Diplomat / Community Service
M.N Swamy is a highly respected, prominent member of the Singapore and West Malaysian bar and had handled a large number of landmark criminal, civil and international cases, some of which are highlighted in his book About Kings, Killers and Justice. These cases involve the world’s biggest shipping fraud perpetrated by Thai suppliers that duped the Russians, Somalis, Kenyans, and Singaporeans, the shock over the four hundred million dollar hydrocracker plant in Pulau Bukom and the poser as to the degree of proof required at the close of the prosecution case, the story of the Secret Societies in Singapore, other stories of chilling killings and the defences that saved the killers from the gallows, cases of criminals escaping the death sentence and their executions later for other crimes, and other stories involving Bangladesh, the Sultan of Siak, the Indonesia Confrontation, temples, fraud, gambling, perjury, sacrilege, and bomohs are featured in his book. Besides practicing as a lawyer for well over fifty years, he had also served as the first honorary Consul General of Nepal. He had served as the president of the Rotary Club of Singapore North where he had raised funds for charitable causes.
As the vice-president of Society for Aid to the Paralyzed, now known as the Society of the Physically Disabled, he championed the cause of the disabled and revamped the organization to help more disabled to earn their own living.
During his term of office as the Consul General of Nepal, he had saved tens of thousands from the rampage of Japanese Encephalitis in Nepal by getting the help of Dr. Chan Kim Yong who answered his call to help the Nepalese who were dying in droves from the disease. He organized the distribution of life-saving drugs in time to stave off the impending disaster on the advice of Dr. Chan, the details of which are set out in his book. He had also sent several dental and medical teams to Nepal to help those living in the mountain areas. During his term, he had also organized and raised funds for the successful surgery of the Nepali conjoined twins, Ganga and Jamuna in Singapore. It was the world’s first successful surgery of conjoined twins which put Singapore on the map as a place of medical excellence.
He had also sent in thousands of dollars’ worth of medicines, clothing, and twenty kidney dialysis machines and helped thousands of Nepalese in both Nepal and Singapore. He had assisted in the setting up of libraries and educational centers in Nepal. In Singapore, he had helped in the reconstruction of the famed Kwan Imm Hood Cho temple at Waterloo Street which contributes millions of dollars to charity in Singapore annually. He had helped in the acquisition of the land for the Dharma Muneesweran temple and drafted its constitution. He had also helped in the relocation and construction of the Hock Huat Keng temple and Veera Muneesweran temple in Yishun. He was also a finance committee member of the Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital and Thai Hock Huan Nursing Home. He was also the legal advisor to the Arya Samaj. His contributions to the Singapore legal fraternity, diplomatic circles, multireligious organizations, clan groups, civic and community organizations are well known.
He always lent his helping hand to various groups irrespective of creed or colour who approached him for help and support. Many of his court cases and his contributions to society have been highlighted in his book. He’s married to Dr. Saroja, a medical practitioner. He is the recipient of a state award for his contributions to the Legal Aid programme in Singapore, the Hind Rattan award of India for his outstanding services,
achievements and contributions, and the Friend of Nepal award. The same award was awarded to Sir Edmund Hillary, the conqueror of Mount Everest on the same day.