Yang Berhormat Senator Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Governance, Integrity and Human Rights;
Yang Arif Datuk Dr Haji Hamid Sultan b Abu Backer, Judge of the Court of Appeal;
Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman b Hj Saad, Chairman of the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board;
Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo, Director of the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration;
Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Razali Ismail, Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia; “SUHAKAM”);
Former members of the Judiciary;
Former members of the Judicial Appointments Commission;
Brenndon Soh, President of the Sabah Law Association;
Ranbir Singh Sangha, President of the Advocates’ Association of Sarawak;
Presidents and representatives of Bar Associations;
Office Bearers of the Malaysian Bar;
Bar Council members;
Past Presidents of the Malaysian Bar;
Former members of the Bar Council;
Your Excellencies High Commissioners and Ambassadors;
Deans and representatives of law faculties and law schools;
Sponsors and supporters of the Malaysian Bar’s Dinner & Dance;
Members of the Bar; and
Distinguished guests.
A very good evening to all of you. I am delighted to welcome all of you to the Malaysian Bar’s Dinner & Dance 2017, held in conjunction with our 71st Annual General Meeting.
This is our signature annual party, and I am informed that yet again we have a sell–out crowd with almost 960 in attendance. It is wonderful to have so many of you — Members and friends of the Malaysian Bar — join us tonight. We had to turn away more than 90 late applicants for tickets, and that is a pity. So, hold on to your seats and beware of lurking gatecrashers!
It has been said of lawyers, that “[s]tanding between authority and subject is always uncomfortable and often dangerous … but that is what we are trained to do”. However, standing between a large ravenous crowd and their dinner is far more perilous, and no training can prepare you for the consequences.
I need to therefore keep this short, although brevity is not one of my gifts. You need only refer to the 66 press statements, replete with footnotes, which I issued over the past two years on behalf of the Malaysian Bar — that is about one every two weeks! The footnotes were sometimes longer than the press statements.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Tonight is special for three main reasons.
First, we celebrate our 70th anniversary as an independent Bar.
This is another milestone in our history and a moment of immense pride for all of us who are privileged to call ourselves Members of the Malaysian Bar. It has been said that 70 is the new 50. For us, that translates to a potent combination of wisdom, maturity and experience of 70 years, paired with ageless dynamism, vitality and vibrancy.
Like fine wine — which incidentally we are serving tonight — the Malaysian Bar only improves with age, and I am confident that the best is yet to come.
Our journey as an independent Bar has been a mission in professionalism, public service and a steadfast devotion to the rule of law. This is a calling we have embraced without fear or favour: ever alert and alive to the needs of Members, and always conscious of our public role as a voice of conscience in society. We have been a friend of the Malaysian people every step of the way in our country’s nationhood. Our role and functions are often misunderstood — even derided by the misguided — but that has not, and will not, compromise our enduring conviction to uphold justice.
Recently, it was reported that many lawyers had descended on major airports in the United States to volunteer urgent legal assistance to those affected by the executive travel ban. Apparently, this public–spirited intervention has inspired renewed pride in the legal profession, and has made lawyering in vogue again.
Now, as laudable as that was, we are proud that generations of Members of the Malaysian Bar have always kept the public spirit and idealism of the legal profession alive throughout our history — without any bells or whistles. Our peerless self–funded legal aid scheme, since its inception in 1965, and our pro bono public interest initiatives, are a showcase of lawyering at its best. Well done, Malaysian Bar!
So tonight, we celebrate our 70th anniversary by remembering all Members of the Bar who have contributed to making us a successful independent institution in our nation, bar none. The untiring efforts, and unstinting commitment to excellence, of our Members, sets us apart as an indomitable force for justice and the rule of law.
The manifold achievements of the Malaysian Bar would not have been possible without the stewardship and selfless labour of all who have served as members of the Bar Council. It is fitting at this time to acknowledge their sacrifices. May I now invite all Bar Council members, past and present, to be upstanding. Please join me in appreciating them in our usual way.
Tonight is also special because we celebrate another international recognition for the Malaysian Bar.
In 2012, we were the proud recipients of the United Nations Malaysia Organization of the Year Award, and the remarkable citation declared that the Malaysian public has come to look to the Malaysian Bar for guidance on what the law is, what the law should be, and what the law must never be.
Last year, we were humbled to be the first recipient of the Union International des Avocats (International Association of Lawyers, “UIA”)’s Rule of Law Award 2016, awarded in cooperation with LexisNexis, for “outstanding contribution to the advancement of the rule of law within the legal community” and for “strong and unfailing commitment to the defence and promotion of human rights”. The UIA is one of the foremost and oldest international law organisations, with a membership of two million lawyers spanning 120 countries.
The UIA award came at a time when we were facing one of the greatest challenges to our independence, in the form of proposed amendments to the Legal Profession Act 1976. We are indeed grateful to the UIA for its ringing endorsement of the Malaysian Bar, and this recognition should not fall on deaf ears.
These two awards are a testament to the untiring efforts of all Members of the Malaysian Bar, through the ages, who have shouldered the responsibility of discharging our duties and functions, in the best traditions of the Bar. Well done again, Malaysian Bar!
Of course, at the frontline were the 27 Presidents who came before me, and later tonight we will honour the Presidents who are here.
The third reason that tonight is special is because we celebrate a distinguished Member with the Malaysian Bar Lifetime Achievement Award. That Member is a towering figure who epitomises our best values, character, and qualities. I do not wish to say much more about the recipient, as the citation for the Award will be delivered by Christopher Leong, the 30th President of the Malaysian Bar, and it will take a brave man to steal his thunder!
But, truth be told, I do not want to do a Steve Harvey and crown the wrong Miss Universe! Or present the Oscar to La La Land instead of Moonlight.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Every incoming President will be told by his predecessors that nothing prepares you for the Presidency of the Malaysian Bar. Nothing could be closer to the truth, for there was never a dull moment in my Presidency, and the pace was relentless. The issues came fast and furious, and the problems seemed insoluble. Often it felt like being plastered on a dartboard with an endless volley of darts coming straight at you. Thankfully, the marksmen’s aim left much to be desired — most of the time!
My two years as President has been a roller–coaster ride with peaks of pride, and depths — never of despair, but of humility borne out of high expectations and enduring hope. It has been a privilege and an honour to serve my fellow Members, because I set out to always be a servant of the Bar first. Being in a position of leadership was a bonus.
The Presidency often demanded steel courage in the face of adversity and unbending strength of belief in the rightful pursuits of the Malaysian Bar. I am thankful for the support of my fellow Office Bearers — George Varughese (Vice–President), Karen Cheah (Secretary) and Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor (Treasurer) — as well as the astute and able Rajen Devaraj (our CEO) and the inimitable Chin Oy Sim (the former Deputy CEO). I am also grateful for the cooperation and solidarity of members of my Bar Council. I drew strength and wisdom from them in some of the most difficult moments.
My tenure brought me into contact with our Members practising throughout the country and members of the public from all walks of life. I was often privy to their aspirations and discouragements. Some of the best moments for me were when the Bar Council could make a difference to a Member who had nobody to turn to, or when a member of the public came up to me and simply said, “Thank you for speaking up for us.” Ultimately, it is these experiences that have made the past two years most satisfying and most memorable.
There are just too many Members of the Bar to thank, and I wish to be able to express my appreciation to them personally when the occasion presents itself. But it would be remiss of me not to mention the Presidents of the Bar who were instrumental in shaping and guiding me on this exhilarating journey.
Firstly, the two Presidents who were once Partners in my firm: Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy who spoke and walked the language of human rights long before it became fashionable; and Dato’ Dr Cyrus Das for mentoring, encouraging and always reminding me that the dignity of the Office of the President was all–important, and should always be in the forefront. I could not have had better role models than them in my formative years at the Bar.
Secondly, Puan Hendon Mohamed, Dato’ Sulaiman Abdullah, Dato’ Mah Weng Kwai and Datuk Haji Kuthubul Zaman for giving me my early exposure in Bar Council committees, and for their constant encouragement and guidance. They piqued my interest in the Bar Council, and what followed was a baptism of fire. I am thankful that they were prepared to invest time and energy in a Member of the Bar who was looking to contribute and make a difference.
Thirdly, the five Presidents with whom I served in the Bar Council: Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh. for his sheer tenacity and single–mindedness of purpose; Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan, for absolutely inspirational and fearless leadership; and Ragunath Kesavan, self–effacing and untiring in his service to the Bar. Then, as an Office Bearer, first with Dato’ Lim Chee Wee, the master communicator who made engagement with friends and adversaries alike an art to be admired; and finally, as Vice–President to Christopher Leong, the consummate President, who, as was said of Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption, has “… a brain the size of a planet.”
These Presidents were my profiles of courage, and for me they portrayed all that the Malaysian Bar has stood for in the past 70 years. In my time, I have tried to emulate them, and often found myself wanting. The Malaysian Bar is truly blessed to have had them at the helm, and I consider myself fortunate to have learned at their feet.
Distinguished guests,
New Office Bearers of the Bar
At this time, I am pleased to introduce to you the new Office Bearers of the Malaysian Bar for the 2017/2018 term.
First, the able and very experienced George Varughese is our new President of the Malaysian Bar.
Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor is the Vice–President; Roger Chan Weng Keng is the Secretary; and Ravi Nekoo is the Treasurer.
My friend George, as I hand over the mantle of leadership of the Malaysian Bar to you, I have no doubt that you will take the Bar to greater heights and keep our flag always flying high.
In the face of sustained attempts to polarise and divide the Bar along irrational lines, I commend to you and the Bar Council 2017/2018, the wise words of Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary–General. He said, “…our mission is to confront ignorance with knowledge, bigotry with tolerance, and isolation with the outstretched hand of generosity.”
It has been said that the Malaysian Bar is greater than the sum of its parts. This is, in many ways, a product of our tradition of mutual respect, understanding and unity amongst Members. We must never allow these virtues to be sacrificed at the altar of convenience or expediency. Instead, now more than ever, we should use them to build or restore bonds of fellowship that have always defined us, and reject the forces that seek to divide us.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The enormous work that the Malaysian Bar and the Bar Council undertake in the discharge of our statutory functions under the Legal Profession Act 1976 is made possible by the many individuals who work tirelessly, with purpose, commitment and conscientiousness, in the best traditions of the Bar.
I wish to record my appreciation to the staff of the Bar Council Secretariat, the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board (“ASDB”), and Bar Council Legal Aid Centres. It is their dedication to their duties, and the ownership that they assume of their work, that ensure the seamless execution of our daily operations and regulatory work.
I thank the Chairman and members of the ASDB for their unstinting efforts as the flag–bearers of the standards required of the legal profession. I wish to especially thank the outgoing Chairman of the ASDB, Datuk Syed Ahmad Helmy b Syed Ahmad, who has served the ADSB with devotion and distinction for four years.
I extend my deep gratitude to all Chairpersons, Deputy Chairpersons and members of the 49 committees of the Bar Council, for their leadership and commitment to the tasks assigned to them in their respective committees.
I wish to extend my appreciation to the Organising Committee of tonight’s event, ably chaired by Karen Cheah, as well as the Bar Council and my fellow Office Bearers, and staff members of the Bar Council Secretariat.
I thank all the wonderful sponsors of tonight’s event, especially LexisNexis, who we are most proud to be associated with. 2017 marks the 85th anniversary of the Malayan Law Journal for LexisNexis. Through the years, they have evolved from being a publishing company to a legal technology solutions global entity, and they are committed to be here for another 85 years to continue supporting the legal profession in making a positive difference.
I thank my wife, Susheila Anne Sreedharan, for putting up with me for the past two years when I was mostly absent and, when present, otherwise pre–occupied with the many challenges of the Bar.
I also wish to thank my partners and colleagues in Shook Lin & Bok, for their support and encouragement in the last two years
Last, but not least, I wish to thank God for the great privilege of serving the Malaysian Bar.
Conclusion
As I sign off as the 31st President of the Malaysian Bar, I am filled with a mixture of sadness and joy. Sad, because I will miss the many people in the Bar Council, especially Anne Andrew, who has taken care of me as a mother would, and Adriene Leong, who spent many hours with me, particularly drafting the 66 press statements! There is also a sense of joy because I move on to my next challenge, confident that I could not be better prepared.
Over the past two years, one thing I have done with much joy is to recite pantuns. Many think that I drafted those pantuns, but those pantuns were all prepared for me by outgoing Bar Council member, Syahredzan Johan. I thank him for obliging me one last time. It goes as follows:
Guni sarat dipenuh jagungJaga guni jangan melantunMajlis ini sampai penghujungTiba masa saya berpantunLayar kapal ke Negeri PunjabSinggah sebentar di SumateraDua tahun pikul tanggungjawabSatu penghormatan buat sayaTepi bukit ada perigiSana tempat si dia menantiKini saya berundur pergiSokongan padu buat pengganti
Thank you.
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Please click:
(1) here to view a report on the Bar's Annual Dinner and Dance on 18 Mar 2017;
(2) here to view the press release issued by the Union Internationale des Avocats (International Association of Lawyers, "UIA"), entitled "The Malaysian Bar Receives First UIA / LexisNexis Rule of Law Award", dated 20 Oct 2016; and
(3) here to view the acceptance speech by Steven Thiru, President, Malaysian Bar, at the presentation of the Inaugural Rule of Law Award 2016 by the Union Internationale des Avocats (International Association of Lawyers, "UIA"), in cooperation with LexisNexis, to the Malaysian Bar on 28 October 2016, at the Opening Ceremony of the 60th Annual Congress in Budapest, Hungary.