This year, the four Members of the Bar who were selected to receive the Malaysian Bar’s Sports Personality of the Year Award were: Francis Ng, Khairil Aznan b Azizi, Syarihah Razman, and Yap Yeow Han.
The presentation ceremony took place at the Malaysian Bar Annual Dinner & Dance 2018, held at the Grand Ballroom, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, on 17 Mar 2018.
More information about each recipient follows below.
Francis Ng
Francis Ng first represented the Malaysian Bar in 1993 in badminton against Singapore in the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games. Back then, he was a pupil in chambers. He has been an avid badminton player since young, and during his school days in Victoria Institution, he would drop by the school hall just to watch the school team practice sessions. Coincidentally, the members of the school team at that time comprised the Sidek brothers.
Francis, who also plays for the Kuala Lumpur Bar badminton team, is currently the convener and captain of the Malaysian Bar badminton team, a role which he took over officially from the previous convener in 2014.
Besides organising training sessions and friendly matches for the Bar team, Francis ensures there is a healthy mix of senior and young players of both sexes in the team. At the same time, he continually seeks good players to refresh the team and keep it strong.
Francis has been a regular participant in the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games, Quadrangular Games as well as Tripartite Bar Games. He is instrumental in organising the annual series of friendly games with Perhimpunan Advokat Indonesia (“PERADI”) since 2014, and has seen the increase in games played, from badminton to golf, soccer, table tennis and pool.
Following the success of the PERADI games, Francis has organised, and led the team in, friendly badminton games with the Law Society of Hong Kong (in March 2015) and the Law Society of Thailand (in August 2016) in Hong Kong and Bangkok, respectively. Friendly games in Vietnam and Taiwan are in the pipeline.
Word of Appreciation
I am deeply honoured by this award which means a lot to me.
My sincere thanks to the Bar Council Sports Committee for the trust and faith placed in me. Most importantly, a special thank you to my badminton team for the friendship, support and camaraderie, which I will always treasure.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife Jean, for her unconditional love, support, encouragement and understanding all these years and for many years to come.
Khairil Aznan b Azizi
An avid golfer since his university days, Khairil Aznan b Azizi has been active in the Malaysian Bar’s golf scene since 2002, during which he has on various occasions represented the Malaysian Bar in golf tournaments during the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games, Quadrangular Games, Tripartite Bar Games, Malaysian Bar and PERADI Friendly Games, and ASEAN Law Associations Golf Tournaments.
He has also participated in various golf tournaments organised by the Malaysian Bar, both as player and golf convener for the Malacca Bar golf team during the Malaysian Bar Closed Golf Tournaments, Interstate Bar Games Golf Tournaments, Tun Dzaiddin’s Cup Golf Tournament, Malacca–Negeri Sembilan v Selangor Bar Games Golf Tournaments, and Selangor Bar Open Golf Tournament.
With the assistance of the Malaysian Bar golf captains, he has co–organised the Interstate Bar Games Golf Tournaments, Malaysian Bar Closed Golf Tournaments, Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games, and the Malacca–Negeri Sembilan v Selangor Bar Games Golf Tournaments, whenever they were held in Melaka.
While his passion in golf has not always translated into success, among his notable achievements were: 2nd place in the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games 2005; 2nd runner–up in the Malaysian Bar Interstate Golf 2008 representing Johore; Champion and Over–All Best Pair in the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games 2008; 12th placing in the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games & Quadrangular Games 2014; 2nd runner–up in the Malaysian Bar Interstate Golf Tournament 2014 representing Johore; 1st runner–up in the Nett Category in the Malaysian Bar Closed Golf Championship 2014; and Champion Nett Category in the Selangor Bar Open Golf Tournament 2017.
Syarihah Razman
Syarihah Razman (“Riha”) first tried out for the Malaysian Bar netball team when she was a pupil in chambers in 2006. It was a moment to forget. Thinking that it was going to be akin to a Sunday league set up, Riha turned up on court ready to have some fun. She immediately received the shock of her life.
The team was a well–oiled army and like any army, it was run on a tight leash and crushing discipline. Mistakes were frowned upon and no breaks were provided for any casual chit chat.
She was terrified and could barely put a foot right. The relationship between her hands and the netball itself was also non–existent. After that first training session, Riha retired from the Bar netball team and went to hide under a big rock. A quick glance at the world netball’s unofficial record book will tell you that this was the most short–lived career in the history of netball.
Happily, it did not end there. Several years down the road, Riha bumped into Diana Hazari (now her fellow netballer and dear friend) at a mutual friend’s place. Diana convinced Riha that the team was not as terrifying as she thought and that she should consider rejoining.
After some careful thought Riha agreed and the rest, as they say, is history.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Riha quickly established herself as a committed team player. Through training, determination and hard work, she is also now the captain of the team playing the position of centre (C) and wing attack (WA).
Riha serves as the netball convener for both the Malaysian Bar and Kuala Lumpur Bar. Some might say that she is power hungry, but it is her love for the sport and the team that she does what she does over the years.
Riha is proud to head a team of remarkably talented women, all of whom are fantastic sportspersons in their own right. The Bar Netball Team are not only teammates, they are family. As family, they support each other when times are hard and the tears fall, and not to mention accomplices when it comes to late night singing and dancing to “Dancing in the Moonlight” by the pool.
Riha would like to take this opportunity to thank the Bar Council Sports Committee for the support that she has received over the years. The Sports Committee is made up of experienced and dedicated members of the Bar led over the years by exemplary chairpersons and Riha thanks each and every one of them.
Last and most importantly, Riha would like to thank all the ladies in the netball team for their friendship and unwavering support. It is safe to say that without them, Riha would not be receiving this award. As such, she dedicates the Sports Personality Award 2018 to her netball family!!
Yap Yeow Han
Yap Yeow Han was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 2002.
1. Have played for and represented the Malaysian Bar in soccer:
(a) Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games — from 2002 to 2015 (Premier Soccer); and from 2016 until present (Veterans Soccer);(b) Tripartite Bar Games — from 2009 until present;(c) Quadrangular Bar Games — from 2010 until present;(d) Malaysian Bar and PERADI Friendly Games — from 2014 until present;(e) Football World Cup for Lawyers — 2006 (Antalya, Turkey); 2012 (Rovinj, Croatia); and(f) Asialawyers Cup — 2007 (Bangkok, Thailand).
2. Have played for and represented the Kuala Lumpur Bar in soccer:
(a) Interstate Bar Games; and(b) Annual friendly games against various teams — Selangor Bar, Royal Selangor Club, etc.
3. Trophies won (events organised by the Bar):
(a) Interstate Bar Games — soccer champion multiple years; and(b) Thayalan Cup.
4. Malaysian Bar — Convener (Premier Soccer):
(a) 2009 to 2011; and(b) 2015 until present.
Word of Appreciation
Thank you for this award. I am honoured and humbled to receive it.
First and foremost, I would like to thank my teammates of past and present for this award would not have been possible without their support, encouragement and friendship. Next, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the “elder statesmen” of the Malaysian Bar football team, especially Isa Aziz Ibrahim, See Kwong Yan and Colin Swee. Their guidance and insights over the years have been invaluable.
Last and definitely not least, to my family, Aik Pin, Lucas and Stella, thank you for all the love and support.