I REFER to reports on ensuring that legal aid is within everyone's reach.

I wholeheartedly support the move to implement schemes to extend legal and welfare services to the poor, the lowly-educated and the intellectually-handicapped to make sure their legal rights are protected.

This clearly indicates a shift in philosophy and a move towards a more sympathetic and humane approach by the justice system.

More importantly, the scheme will provide an accused person with a level playing field, regardless of his financial status and social background.

Court cases entail hefty expenses and the poor are denied access to lawyers because they can ill afford to pay the legal fees.

Whether one is rich or poor, one should have recourse to legal services. No one should be denied the justice he deserves because of his inability to pay.

Singapore has a transparent, fair and impartial legal system. Before the courts, all are equal.

In the words of Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong: Justice is the ultimate good.

However, it means nothing if there is no practical access to it.

Mr Sebastian Tan

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