|
Menghadap Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah,
Ampun Tuanku beribu-ribu ampun, sembah patek mohon diampun.
Adalah patek bagi pihak penganjur Konference undang-undang
Malaysia yang ke-empatbelas merafak sembah menjunjung kasih, di atas
keberangkatan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku, mencemar duli ke Majlis Perasmian
konference pada pagi ini. Patek dan para hadirin sekalian sesungguhnya merasa
amat bangga diatas keberangkatan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku di Majlis ini.
Keberangkatan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku ke Majlis ini
memberi makna yang besar kepada pihak penganjur and para hadirin sekalian.
Ampun Tuanku.
Patek dengan segala hormat dan takzimnya memohon izin, limpah
perkenan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku untuk meneruskan ucapan kepada para hadirin
dalam Bahasa Inggeris.
...........................
On behalf of the Organisng Committee and the Malaysian Bar
Council, may I welcome each and every one of you to this 14th Malaysian Law
Conference.
The theme of this Conference - “50 Years of Merdeka” was
chosen in conjunction with our nation’s 50 years of independence.
As you know, the emphasis of this Conference is on the
Federal Constitution. Our Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation.
In the case of Ah Thian v Government of Malaysia in
1976, Lord President Tun Mohamed Suffian declared: “The doctrine of supremacy of
Parliament does not apply in Malaysia. Here we have a written constitution. The
power of Parliament and of State Legislatures in Malaysia is limited by the
Constitution, and they cannot make any law they please.”
That explains why our judges and members of Parliament are
required to take their oaths to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.
An 18th century American lawyer, Patrick Henry, once wrote,
“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the
people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it
come to dominate our lives and interests.”
In the last 50 years, to what extent our rights have been
preserved, protected and defended by the Constitution in particular the manner
in which the three branches of government - Parliament, executive and the
judiciary have treated and interpreted this basic law of the land is one hot
issue which will be examined by the many eminent constitutional law experts in
this conference.
This conference will also examine the development of the
country's laws after 50 years of independence as well as to reflect on our
achievements in the last five decades and to raise issues and challenges that
will face this nation for next fifty years.
Among other subjects which will also be discussed in this Conference include
local government, housing and land laws, Islamic commercial law, corporate law,
intellectual property law, the criminal justice system, civil litigation, gender
and family law issues, the role of young lawyers, and upholding standards of our
profession.
Ladies and Gentlemen, our Prime Minister, The Right Hon. Dato’ Seri Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi will deliver the keynote address of this conference. The Prime
Minister extends his apologies for not being able to do so this morning.
However, he has very generously agreed to host a sumptuous dinner for every one
of us at the Grand Ballroom of Renaissance Hotel for him to do so. We are
grateful that the Prime Minister has made it a point to want to deliver his
message personally to the Bar as well as to the delegates. I hope every one of
us including our distinguished guests will make an effort to keep the date with
the Prime Minister this evening. More announcements on the details will be made
later. But I can assure you that it will be a sumptuous dinner because the
office of our kind Prime Minister has given me the liberty to personally choose
the menu.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this Conference would not have been
possible without the indefatigable efforts of my committee members and the
support of the Bar Council Secretariat staff and my colleagues in the Council. I
must specially mention the former Chief Judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Siti Norma
Yaakob, for her advice, our President, Ambiga Sreenevasan for her great support,
committee and Council member, Dato’ Muhammad Shafee, who has proven to be a
great fundraiser and our Secretariat staff – Syirin, Chandrika and Elizabeth.
I would also like to thank the Real Estate and Housing
Developers Association led by Mr Ng Seing Liong for co-organising the session on
housing law. Again, this partnership shows that despite our differences
especially on the no discount rule, we can always work together for the good of
the industry.
Likewise, our appreciation goes to the Royal Malaysian Police
Force for their kind assistance.
I would also like to register our gratitude to the sponsors,
speakers, moderators and everyone who has helped in one way or another in
organising this Conference.
Lastly, I note that we have many foreign participants and
speakers from various jurisdictions and I hope you will take some time off
during your stay here to enjoy our hospitality and the many treasures this
beautiful country can offer you particularly so when this year is also the Visit
Malaysia Year
I sincerely hope that as much as I have enjoyed organising
this Conference, you will also have an enjoyable time.
Ampun Tuanku beribu-ribu ampun sembah patek mohon diampun.
Patek sekali lagi dengan hormat takzim, merafak sembah
menjunjung kasih atas limpah perkenan Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku berangkat
menghadiri Majlis ini pada pagi ini.
Ampun Tuanku. 
 |
News/Articles 
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Report: LAWASIA Fact-finding Mission to Pakistan
