In recent years I have appeared in several trial courts: Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, and Johore Bharu. My work requires me to appear regularly before the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court. I am happy to report that Malaysian judges are courteous, professional–and to use an old English word, "proper". It was not always this way: several times in my career, I have come across ...