
Indonesia’s Chief Justice Prof. Dr. M. Sunarto and a high-level delegation participated in Singapore’s Opening Legal Year (OLY) 2025, an annual judicial tradition emphasizing ethics, learning, and international collaboration.
Singapore’s Opening Legal Year (OLY) 2025 was held on Monday, January 13, 2025, at the Singapore Supreme Court Hall. The event was attended by Prof. Dr. M. Sunarto, S.H., M.H., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indonesia, and his delegation at the invitation of the Singapore Supreme Court. The Indonesian delegation included senior officials such as I Gusti Agung Sumanatha, S.H., M.H., and Dr. Aria Suyudi, S.H., L.L.M.
The OLY, an annual tradition among countries with Common Law systems, marks the formal commencement of judicial operations for the year. This year’s event was led by Singapore Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and included speeches from Attorney General Lucien Wong, S.C., and Law Society President Lisa Sam Hui Min.
Chief Justice Menon’s address highlighted Singapore’s 60th year as a nation and outlined priorities for the judiciary. Key points included fostering ethics, continuous learning, and professional collaboration within the legal industry. Menon also emphasized Singapore’s commitment to international judicial cooperation, citing programs like the Masterclass Training for Commercial Judges in Asia and the Pacific, co-organized with Indonesia’s Supreme Court in September 2024, which drew 70 participants from 17 countries.
The event was attended by prominent international judicial figures, including Honourable Khamphanh Bounphakhom of Laos, Honourable Tan Sri Datuk Nallini Pathmanathan of Malaysia, and Justice Robert French, former Chief Justice of Australia. The program also highlighted Singapore’s recent judicial innovation—the establishment of the International SICC Committee, designed to handle appeals and cross-border civil disputes, showcasing Singapore’s strides in internationalizing its judiciary.
The Indonesian delegation’s presence underscored the close judicial ties between Indonesia and Singapore, with both nations committed to advancing legal and judicial excellence in the region.
Source: Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia