The Right Honourable Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat, Chief Justice of Malaysia;
Honourable Judges of the Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, and Judicial Commissioners;
Office Bearers of the Malaysian Bar;
Bar Council members;
Your Excellencies High Commissioners and Ambassadors;
Members of the Bar;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. A very good evening to all of you. I am delighted to welcome all of you to the Malaysian Bar’s Dinner & Dance 2024. I have been informed that all our tables were completely sold out 3 weeks ago with almost 1,000 in attendance!
2. It is wonderful to have so many of you — Members and friends of the Malaysian Bar — join us tonight.
3. My hope is that this overwhelming interest to attend the Bar’s Annual Dinner will similarly be reflected in the upcoming Annual General Meeting on 16 March 2024! I hope to see all of you at our 78th AGM in 2 weeks’ time.
Ladies and gentlemen,
4. The Malaysian Bar’s journey has always been centred around public service and a steadfast devotion to the rule of law. This is a calling we have embraced without fear or favour: while sensitive to the needs of Members, but ever mindful of our public role as a voice of conscience in society. Our role and functions are sometimes misunderstood — but that has never compromised our conviction to continue upholding justice.
5. The last 2 years were very much centred around advocating independences of the Judiciary and pushing for reforms to strengthen the key institutions in the country. The tireless efforts, and commitment to excellence, sets the Malaysian Bar as a force for justice and the rule of law in Malaysia.
6. This feat would not have been possible without the selfless labour of so many wonderful people involved in the work that the Malaysian Bar does.
Acknowledgements
7. I was forewarned by many past presidents that nothing prepares you for the Presidency of the Malaysian Bar. This is so very true — there was never a dull moment in my Presidency, and the pace was intense, relentless and high-pressure. Before one fire is put out, 3 more emerges. The manifold issues came fast and furious, immediately upon my taking over the helm in March 2022. I had lofty ideas in navigating the Malaysian Bar and often times, it felt like the order of the day for the last 2 years was “everything, everywhere, all at once”.
8. My two years as President have been an exhilarating roller-coaster ride.
9. The Presidency often demanded steel courage in the face of adversity. I am eternally grateful to the dedicated support of my fellow Office Bearers — Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab (Vice-President), Anand Raj (Secretary) and Murshidah Mustafa (Treasurer) — as well as the ever astute and able Rajen Devaraj (our CEO) and the diligence of Sunil Lopez (the Deputy CEO).
10. I am also grateful for the cooperation and solidarity of my fellow Bar Councillors. I drew strength and wisdom from them in some of the most challenging and difficult moments. Your dedication to actively engaging and contributing in the role you play beyond your professional commitments is truly commendable. For that, I thank you.
11. There are so many Members of the Bar to thank, 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.
12. Firstly, Christopher Leong who also happens to be a Partner in the firm I am in — Chris was constantly watching out for me from the sidelines, and ever ready to be my sounding board.
13. Secondly, Steven Thiru for the constant encouragement and words of wisdom.
14. I could not have had better role models than the both of them in my formative years at the Bar Council.
15. Many thanks too to Datuk Lim Chee Wee who pushed me to the forefront 12 years ago to step up as Treasurer despite having served in the Bar Council for only 1 year.
16. Salim Bashir and Dato’ Fareed Gafoor were instrumental in encouraging me to step up the helm in 2022. I am humbled by your faith in me.
17. Last but not least, my thanks and admiration to Hendon Mohamed, the late Dato’ Sulaiman Abdullah (whom we lost recently as a sitting Bar Council member last year), Dato’ Mah Weng Kwai, Dato’ Yeo Yang Poh, Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan, Ragunath Kesavan, Dato’ George Varughese, Datuk Haji Kuthubul Zaman, and A G Kalidas — for their constant encouragement and guidance.
18. Permit me to pause for a moment here to make an honourable mention that the recipient of the Malaysian Bar Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023 is Puan Hendon Mohamed, who has demonstrated dedication and exemplary service, in addition to making outstanding and significant contributions to the Malaysian Bar. We will be holding an award ceremony in the coming few months.
Ladies and gentlemen,
19. As I conclude my second-year term as President soon, I am fully aware amidst the challenges, it is the people who have become the beacon of inspiration and strength, turning difficulties into shared triumphs. I truly value the time we have spent together; working alongside each other to achieve what we have set out to do for the Bar.
20. I would like to record my gratitude to all Chairpersons, Deputy Chairpersons and members of all the committees in the Bar Council. You are responsible for many of the positive changes that we see reflected in the law and society.
21. Equally important are Members who have been providing the Bar Council with advice and opinion, and Members who represent the Bar as counsel, including holding watching brief and as amicus curiae — all in the interest of the Malaysian Bar. Your commitment is most heartening, and serves as an encouragement and a reminder to all of us that the voluntary work of lawyers for the public good is steeped in our tradition and calling.
22. I also wish to extend my utmost appreciation to the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board (“ASDB”), and Legal Aid Centres (“LACs”). I thank the Chairman, members and staff of the ASDB for serving in this challenging capacity and ensuring that our professional and ethical standards are kept to the highest degree. My deep appreciation also goes to Members of the Bar and LAC staff, for their commitment to making real the constitutional right of access to justice, to those in need.
23. Of course, I must extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the staff of the Bar Council Secretariat — whose many faces Members may not ordinarily know or recognise, but whose efforts are immense to the operations of the Bar. Vila, who at the drop of a hat will organise last-minute forums and never ever say no to my endless demands. Rabeah, PA to the Office Bearers, whose patience and ability to read my mind is almost uncanny. All at the Special Projects Department, Sivakami and the late Khadijah, Mysahra Shawkat, Sha-Lyn, Lily (Director of Finance) — I will remember each and every one of you in many different ways for your commitment to the causes of the Bar.
24. I thank my ever patient and understanding daughter, Kyra Elizabeth Carvalho, for putting up with me the past two years when I was mostly absent and, yet when I was present, was still pre-occupied with the Bar and juggling office work even at the home front.
25. I also wish to thank my partners and colleagues in Chooi & Company, for their unwavering support and encouragement in the last two years without so much of batting an eye-lid.
26. As I sign off as the 36th 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, but joy because I move on to my next challenge, confident that I could not be better prepared.
27. Finally, to Members of the Bar, it has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as your President and be the voice of the Malaysian Bar the past two years. The opportunity to serve the Bar and to contribute to the public interest, is one that I value greatly and is deeply meaningful to me. I hope my love for the Bar is reflected in the work done.
28. I take this time to also thank our Silver sponsor — AON Insurance Brokers; Bronze sponsors — Volkswagen Malaysia and Marsh Insurance Brokers, for their valuable contributions in ensuring the success of our event today.
29. Now, let us surround ourselves with good company, enjoy yourselves and have fun!
30. Thank you.