This year, the four Members of the Bar who were selected to receive the Malaysian Bar’s Sports Personality of the Year Award were: Jeyakumar Palakrishnar, Law How Chong, Simon Tan Hong Jin, and Tony Woon Yeow Thong.
The presentation ceremony took place at the Malaysian Bar Annual Dinner and Dance 2019, held at the Majestic Ballroom, The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, on 16 Mar 2019.
The presentation ceremony took place at the Malaysian Bar Annual Dinner and Dance 2019, held at the Majestic Ballroom, The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, on 16 Mar 2019.
More information about each recipient follows below.
Jeyakumar Palakrishnar
For Jeyakumar Palakrishnar, the Sports Personality award is as much a walk down memory lane as it is a testament to his achievements. At the age of 50, 2019 marks his 25th consecutive year at the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games. Ever the sports enthusiast, Jeyakumar has participated in numerous events, most notably bowling, where he has been a key figure since 1998. He has played in every event, be it men’s singles, men’s doubles or mixed doubles, and importantly, won most. He has also stepped up whenever necessary, serving as replacements in hockey, cross–country and “boat race”. As Jeyakumar will assure you, “You’ll never walk alone”. When asked to step in for cross–country at the Tripartite Bar Games in Miri in 2015, he finished a credible seventh amongst the male runners, with shoes purchased the night before.
Jeyakumar’s love for football is not limited to the annual pilgrimages he makes to Anfield, Liverpool. He represented the Malaysian Bar in premier soccer from 1995 to 2004, and subsequently in veteran soccer from 2005 to 2007 where he served as keeper. Due to a back injury, he was unable to play in the 2007 match. However, that did not stop him from wearing a brace and beating his opponent in the bowling singles event.
He was also the Kuala Lumpur Bar soccer convener for more than five years, organising many events including the Thayalan Cup, which saw the Advocates Association of Sarawak being a regular participant then. He also organised a beach soccer tournament in Port Dickson in 1997, where he scored the winning goal despite being the keeper, earning his team the inaugural championship.
Fun fact: Jeyakumar can plank for 16 minutes.
Law How Chong
Law How Chong was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1998.
He is very active especially in sports activities organised by the Bar Council and various State Bar Committees since his pupillage days in 1997 until today. He has participated in various sports activities such as football and volleyball, but his passion is badminton and running.
He has also represented the Selangor Bar in badminton for the annual Interstate Bar Games, Tripartite Games (Selangor Bar, UiTM and Judiciary), Selangor Law Games, Kejohanan Empat Penjuru, Law Shield Games, and the annual friendly games with teams from the Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur Bars, as well as non–Bar teams. In 2001 and 2002, he served as the badminton convener for the Selangor Bar.
He has represented the Malaysian Bar in badminton for almost every series of the following games:
(a) Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games;
(b) Quadrangular Bar Games;
(c) Tripartite Bar Games;
(d) Manipal Game 2017;
(e) Manipal Playoffs 2018; and
(f) Malaysian Bar Friendly Games against PERADI, Law Society of Hong Kong and Law Society of Thailand.
He is also part of the Malaysian Bar cross–country team for the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games and has taken part in the annual KL Bar Run since its inaugural run in 2015. His team was the Champion at the KL Bar Run 2018. He was also amongst the top 10 fastest male runners at the KL Bar Run 2019.
He has taken part in almost all the badminton tournaments organised by the Bar Council, and Selangor, Malacca–Negeri Sembilan, and Kuala Lumpur Bar Committees. Some of his memorable achievements have been at the following tournaments:
(a) Interstate Bar Games in 2006, 2010, 2015 and 2017;
(b) KL Bar Open Tournament for Men 1999 (singles) (Winner);
(c) Ganeswaran Cup 2006 (doubles) (Winner);
(d) Selangor Law Games 2007 (Winner);
(e) Selangor/Malacca–Negeri Sembilan Bench and Bar Games in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 to 2010 (Winner);
(f) KL Bar Sports Carnival 2009 (Winner);
(g) KL–Selangor Bar Game 2012 (Winner);
(h) Kejohanan Empat Penjuru 2007 and 2013 (Winner);
(i) Law Shield Games in 2015, 2016 and 2017 (Winner);
(j) Manipal Game 2017 (Winner); and
(k) Manipal Playoffs 2018 (Winner).
Law How Chong is very committed and devoted to participating in, and attending, almost every training and games organised by the Bar Council (either friendly and/or competitive, wherever the training and/or tournament is held) in badminton and cross–country. He is also a very humble sportsman with a great spirit of sportsmanship. He constantly motivates and encourages his fellow teammates as well as other lawyers, to participate in the games organised, and believes that his enthusiasm, zeal, diligence and passion in sports will keep aflame for many more years in the future.
Simon Tan Hong Jin
Simon Tan has been very active in sports activities of the Malaysian Bar since his pupillage in 1998 until today.
He fares competitively well in most of the sports that he plays (eg basketball, volleyball and badminton), but he stands out in terms of football/futsal and bowling.
Being a near all–rounder in sports and carrying the right attitude, Simon has been the key player and convener/organiser/captain of the Penang Bar Committee for various sports. He has been very involved in the Penang/Perak Bar Games every year and has organised, or assisted in organising, countless friendly football matches, as well as other events such as bowling and futsal tournaments, in the last (at least) 15 years. These are among other consistent efforts to keep the Penang Bar Committee active in sports through the highs and lows, even when he was not the Penang Bar Committee Sports Chairman.
Simon served as the Penang Bar Committee Sports Chairman for three terms: 2011–2012, 2012–2013 and 2013–2014.
When the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games in 2010 were held in Penang, Simon represented the Malaysian Bar in veteran football, and since then, has done so every year. He was also part of the organising team of the 2010 Games as the person in charge of bowling.
Simon was then enlisted to play for the Malaysian Bar bowling team in 2011 and he has been selected to play in the Bench and Bar Games every year since. He has certainly played a role in the winning teams all these years.
He has also represented the Malaysian Bar for veteran football three times in the PERADI Games.
Since 2010, Simon has co–organised annual football matches and trips between The Law Society of Singapore and the Penang Bar Committee, and from a few years ago, this annual Game and trip have involved the participation of members of other State Bar Committees. The 2019 instalment will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Tony Woon Yeow Thong
Tony Woon was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1990. In the early years of his practice, he represented the Negeri Sembilan (“NS”) Bar in the games of snooker and golf.
He was elected as Chairman of the NS Bar Sports Committee in 1999 and, as such, carried on the usual traditions by the NS Bar Sports Committee, which include annual games with the Selangor Bar, Malacca Bar and NS Malaysian Medical Association, and various other games with the State Judiciary, police and other statutory bodies.
In 2004, in his capacity as Chairman of the NS Bar Sports Committee, he organised the 2nd Malaysian Bar Interstate Golf Tournament at the Port Dickson Golf & Country Club. Almost all the State Bars participated, and even teams from the Advocates Association of Sarawak, The Law Society of Singapore and the Attorney General’s Chambers, headed by the Attorney General himself, were included. Tony Woon also organised the inaugural Interstate Malaysian Bar Soccer Championship, which was also held at the same time in Port Dickson, with 11 teams participating.
Tony Woon joined the Bar Council Sports Committee in 2003. In 2008, he served as its Chairperson. That same year, the Malaysian Bar was the overall winner in the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games, with a score of 8–2.
He has participated in almost all the golf tournaments organised by the Bar Council as well as the NS Bar Committee, and also takes part in games of snooker and darts. Some of his notable achievements are:
Fun fact: Jeyakumar can plank for 16 minutes.
Law How Chong
Law How Chong was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1998.
He is very active especially in sports activities organised by the Bar Council and various State Bar Committees since his pupillage days in 1997 until today. He has participated in various sports activities such as football and volleyball, but his passion is badminton and running.
He has also represented the Selangor Bar in badminton for the annual Interstate Bar Games, Tripartite Games (Selangor Bar, UiTM and Judiciary), Selangor Law Games, Kejohanan Empat Penjuru, Law Shield Games, and the annual friendly games with teams from the Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur Bars, as well as non–Bar teams. In 2001 and 2002, he served as the badminton convener for the Selangor Bar.
He has represented the Malaysian Bar in badminton for almost every series of the following games:
(a) Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games;
(b) Quadrangular Bar Games;
(c) Tripartite Bar Games;
(d) Manipal Game 2017;
(e) Manipal Playoffs 2018; and
(f) Malaysian Bar Friendly Games against PERADI, Law Society of Hong Kong and Law Society of Thailand.
He is also part of the Malaysian Bar cross–country team for the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games and has taken part in the annual KL Bar Run since its inaugural run in 2015. His team was the Champion at the KL Bar Run 2018. He was also amongst the top 10 fastest male runners at the KL Bar Run 2019.
He has taken part in almost all the badminton tournaments organised by the Bar Council, and Selangor, Malacca–Negeri Sembilan, and Kuala Lumpur Bar Committees. Some of his memorable achievements have been at the following tournaments:
(a) Interstate Bar Games in 2006, 2010, 2015 and 2017;
(b) KL Bar Open Tournament for Men 1999 (singles) (Winner);
(c) Ganeswaran Cup 2006 (doubles) (Winner);
(d) Selangor Law Games 2007 (Winner);
(e) Selangor/Malacca–Negeri Sembilan Bench and Bar Games in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 to 2010 (Winner);
(f) KL Bar Sports Carnival 2009 (Winner);
(g) KL–Selangor Bar Game 2012 (Winner);
(h) Kejohanan Empat Penjuru 2007 and 2013 (Winner);
(i) Law Shield Games in 2015, 2016 and 2017 (Winner);
(j) Manipal Game 2017 (Winner); and
(k) Manipal Playoffs 2018 (Winner).
Law How Chong is very committed and devoted to participating in, and attending, almost every training and games organised by the Bar Council (either friendly and/or competitive, wherever the training and/or tournament is held) in badminton and cross–country. He is also a very humble sportsman with a great spirit of sportsmanship. He constantly motivates and encourages his fellow teammates as well as other lawyers, to participate in the games organised, and believes that his enthusiasm, zeal, diligence and passion in sports will keep aflame for many more years in the future.
Simon Tan Hong Jin
Simon Tan has been very active in sports activities of the Malaysian Bar since his pupillage in 1998 until today.
He fares competitively well in most of the sports that he plays (eg basketball, volleyball and badminton), but he stands out in terms of football/futsal and bowling.
Being a near all–rounder in sports and carrying the right attitude, Simon has been the key player and convener/organiser/captain of the Penang Bar Committee for various sports. He has been very involved in the Penang/Perak Bar Games every year and has organised, or assisted in organising, countless friendly football matches, as well as other events such as bowling and futsal tournaments, in the last (at least) 15 years. These are among other consistent efforts to keep the Penang Bar Committee active in sports through the highs and lows, even when he was not the Penang Bar Committee Sports Chairman.
Simon served as the Penang Bar Committee Sports Chairman for three terms: 2011–2012, 2012–2013 and 2013–2014.
When the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games in 2010 were held in Penang, Simon represented the Malaysian Bar in veteran football, and since then, has done so every year. He was also part of the organising team of the 2010 Games as the person in charge of bowling.
Simon was then enlisted to play for the Malaysian Bar bowling team in 2011 and he has been selected to play in the Bench and Bar Games every year since. He has certainly played a role in the winning teams all these years.
He has also represented the Malaysian Bar for veteran football three times in the PERADI Games.
Since 2010, Simon has co–organised annual football matches and trips between The Law Society of Singapore and the Penang Bar Committee, and from a few years ago, this annual Game and trip have involved the participation of members of other State Bar Committees. The 2019 instalment will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Tony Woon Yeow Thong
Tony Woon was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1990. In the early years of his practice, he represented the Negeri Sembilan (“NS”) Bar in the games of snooker and golf.
He was elected as Chairman of the NS Bar Sports Committee in 1999 and, as such, carried on the usual traditions by the NS Bar Sports Committee, which include annual games with the Selangor Bar, Malacca Bar and NS Malaysian Medical Association, and various other games with the State Judiciary, police and other statutory bodies.
In 2004, in his capacity as Chairman of the NS Bar Sports Committee, he organised the 2nd Malaysian Bar Interstate Golf Tournament at the Port Dickson Golf & Country Club. Almost all the State Bars participated, and even teams from the Advocates Association of Sarawak, The Law Society of Singapore and the Attorney General’s Chambers, headed by the Attorney General himself, were included. Tony Woon also organised the inaugural Interstate Malaysian Bar Soccer Championship, which was also held at the same time in Port Dickson, with 11 teams participating.
Tony Woon joined the Bar Council Sports Committee in 2003. In 2008, he served as its Chairperson. That same year, the Malaysian Bar was the overall winner in the Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games, with a score of 8–2.
He has participated in almost all the golf tournaments organised by the Bar Council as well as the NS Bar Committee, and also takes part in games of snooker and darts. Some of his notable achievements are:
- Winner in snooker in 2000, 2005 and 2006, in the NS/Malacca Bar v Selangor Bar Games;
- 6th placing in the ASEAN Law Association Golf Club tournament in 2004;
- Champion in the Dato’ Azhar Haji Maah Golf Challenge Trophy 2006; and
- 5th placing in golf, in the NS/Malacca Bar v Selangor Bar Games, 2000.
- Tony Woon has dedicated himself to participating in and organising tournaments for the Malaysian Bar for most of his practice years with the Bar from 1990 until the present day. His dedication will continue, especially in the game of golf.