The Kuala Lumpur Bar Blog | Beta

No longer updating this Blog

2011-06-08T18:49:00.003+08:00

Dear All,

Kindly note that we will no longer be updating this Blog. Kindly log on to our KL Bar Website (http://www.klbar.org.my/) for updates.

Follow us on twitter (twitter.com/klbar) and also on Facebook (KL Bar Facebook Group)

Kind Regards,

Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee
Tingkat 8, Wisma Kraftangan
No. 9 Jalan Tun Perak
50050 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603-2693 3585 (Hunting Line)
Fax: 603-2691 1090
E-mail: klbc@klbar.org.my
Website: www.klbar.org.my

EHC Old/Disused Paper Collection Week

2011-05-05T15:07:00.005+08:00

In Conjunction with Earth Day

(18 to 22 April 2011)

The KL Bar Environmental and Humanities Committee (EHC) organised a five-day ‘Old/Disused Paper Collection’ event in conjunction with the Earth Day Celebration which, this year, fell on 22.04.2011.

This was the 3rd consecutive year that such an event had been organised by EHC. However this year it was nationally covered by the TV3’s Malaysia Hari Ini (MHI) on 20.04.2011.

The Deputy Chairperson, Puan NoorHajran Mohd Noor who appeared in the morning talk show, explained the importance and rationale of lawyers getting involved in the Earth’s Day celebration. She also touched on the history behind Earth Day, the dire consequences of uncontrolled carbon emission and why KL Bar Committee was taking the lead in the five-day ’Old/Disused Paper Collection’ initiative at the Secretariat. Noor had also suggested that the public were welcome to support the initiative, as the symbolism behind it is meaningful as to ensure quality living for all of Earth's inhabitants. In this connection, one proposal she would like people to think about is the possibility of enforcing a Minimum Packaging Act, which will go a long way for less wastage and a healthy environment.

The total collection of old/disused paper this year reached over 800kg with the main contributors being the KL Bar Secretariat, Skrine, Chan Weng Keng & Associates and Saha & Associates.

The KL Bar Secretariat also implemented the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) programme in its office in support of EHC’s efforts in calling for less waste.

The EHC would like to place on record its appreciation and thanks to all the lawyers and staff at the KL Bar Secretariat who helped out during the entire period of the event.

Contributed by

Roger Chan Weng Keng

Chairperson

Environmental and Humanities Committee

KL Bar Young Lawyers Committee Retreat 2011

2011-04-28T10:38:00.006+08:00

Over the weekend of 16th -17th April 2011, 36 new and old members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee (KLYLC) participated in a retreat at Bukit Gambang Resort City Kuantan, Pahang. Nestled within the secondary jungle in Gambang, Kuantan, the resort provided the perfect environment for the retreat.

Despite a rainy Saturday morning, it did not dampen the spirits of the enthusiastic participants who all gathered at the BHP Petrol Station, Gombak before leaving together in a convoy of 9 cars. After a 3-hour drive through the East Coast Highway, the participants arrived safely at the resort.

The retreat began with a brief welcome address by the KLYLC Chair, Kenneth Wong Poh Lim followed by an ice-breaking session. Participants were paired together and required to briefly describe his/her partner. Each participant was also provided with a name tag to sketch his/her partner’s face on it.

After a scrumptious buffet lunch at the resort’s coffee house, the next agenda for the retreat was a session where participants were asked to list down the problems affecting themselves as young lawyers, problems in relation to the BAR and the nation as a whole. Amongst the problems which affected themselves as young lawyers were problems concerning low wages/salary, long working hours and heavy workload, no proper guidance/mentoring by senior lawyers, feeling unappreciated, office politics etc.

Richard Wee, newly elected chairman of the National Young Lawyers Committee of the Bar Council was kind enough to take some time off his busy schedule to take part in the retreat, where he conducted a training session with the participants.

As evening approached, participants were told that the jungle trekking session had to be postponed as that evening was darker than usual, hence making it unsafe to proceed. Later that night, before the start of the brainstorming session on aspirations and hopes for the KLYLC, participants were all blindfolded in an activity to walk towards a ‘voice’. The activity basically taught the participants the importance of teamwork and working together in finding the voice. The night ended with a campfire session.

On Sunday morning, participants were divided into 3 groups for the obstacle challenges and outdoor team building activities organised by the resort. Needless to say, this was in fact one of the highlights of the retreat. The retreat’s finale was a session led by Kenneth Wong where he unveiled the plans and aspirations for the KLYLC for the upcoming year of 2011.

As participants headed back to Kuala Lumpur around 2pm, it goes without saying that all 36 participants parted with better ties fostered, more focused on the expectations for the KLYLC, highly motivated and energised to contribute to the Bar.

Web report prepared by Johnson Lim, YL.Net Unit of the KLYLC

Forum on ‘Climate Change: A Catastrophe in the Making’ 22.02.2011 at Bar Council Auditorium, Kuala Lumpur

2011-04-26T10:38:00.005+08:00

The KL Bar Environmental and Humanities Committee organised a one- day forum on climate change entitled Climate Change: A Catastrophe in the Making on 22 February 2011 at the Bar Council Auditorium, Kuala Lumpur.

The forum drew an attendance of 100 participants comprising of members the Bar, environmental activists, NGOs, civil society, government agencies, the private sector and students from local and foreign universities.

The event was fully sponsored by KLS Energy Sdn Bhd, an organisation which promotes usage of alternative sources of energy such as windmills and solar panels.

Six invited speakers presented their papers in 2 separate sessions in the morning, focusing on topics such as After Cancun 2010 what next? and The Real Nature of Climate Change. Why is it everybody’s problem? The speakers were Ms Chew Swee Yoke of the Malaysian Bar, Mr Muru Loganathan of the British High Commission, Mr Adrian Yeo of Malaysian Youth Climate Justice Network, Mr Gurmit Singh KS of Centre of Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia, Prof Chan Ngai Weng of University Sains Malaysia and Ms Lim Li Ching of Third World Network. Their presentations and the ensuing question-and-answer sessions had served to heighten much public awareness in climate change as an area of international concern from many aspects and perspectives.

In the afternoon, a video presentation of David Suzuki, an award-winning scientist and environmentalist, gave the audience some insight into the challenges humankind has to face in terms of moving away from the illusionary nature of economic growth towards the reality of a sustainable ecosystem.

Central to the problem of Climate Change, is the control of global greenhouse gas emission. The push and pull forces seem to unfold during the forum, between scientific necessity, on one hand and political possibility on the other.

This led to a lively seven-member panel discussion comprising 4 of the speakers as well as 3 representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) namely Dr Che Abdul Rahim Nik, Dr. Teddy Lian Kok Fei and Dr Elizabeth MP Philip. The participants took part as well in engaging the panel members with their questions, some of which are very penetrating and thought-provoking.

The forum was closed by Dato’ Sri Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister of the Natural Resources and Environment, who delivered a closing address.

As an appropriate conclusion to the forum the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee issued a communiqué as follows:

‘Believing that it is imperative to act rather than talk, and BEING ALARMED by the time running out on humankind, WE CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE to join hands and initiate positive and meaningful measures in the form of peoples’ initiatives, policies, legislation and financial incentives to achieve the Prime Minister’s undertaking to the Copenhagen Summit 2009, that Malaysia is committed to reduce its carbon emission intensity by 40% by 2020.’

Contributed by Roger Chan Weng Keng

Bar Council Circular No 080/2011

2011-04-07T17:26:00.002+08:00

Chief Justice of Malaya’s Practice Direction No 2 of 2011 on Court Proceedings and Joint Press Release by the Chief Justice of Malaysia and the President of the Malaysian Bar

Bar Council is pleased to inform you that the Bench and the Bar have arrived at a common position on the KPI issue.

Click here for Practice Direction No 2 of 2011 and here for the the joint press release dated 7 Apr 2011. We will make further announcements regarding the working groups.

Meanwhile, we are also working with the Bench to resolve the problems of clashing hearing dates and no postponements arising from the Court of Appeal’s fixing of interlocutory appeals.

Should you have any feedback, please submit your input by email to nikwaheeda@malaysianbar.org.my or by fax to 03-2032 2043. Please do not hesitate to contact Nik Waheeda Nik Kamarulzaman by telephone at 03-2031 3003 ext 142 or 03-2032 4498, should you require any clarification.

Thank you for your patience. Bar Council hopes this will be one of many steps taken to improve the administration of justice.

Thank you.

Lim Chee Wee

President

Malaysian Bar

KLBC Activities Report for March 2011

2011-04-05T15:08:00.009+08:00

11 March 2011

PDC Seminar on Islamic Wills II

Amir Bahari from Bahari & Bahari presented the seminar which is part of a 3 part series of seminars on Islamic Wills. The seminar was held at the KL Bar Auditorium at 3.00pm and was attended by 58 participants. The presentation covered the key differences between Islamic and Conventional Estate Planning, appointment of Executors, how to qualify clients effectively, effectively billing, strategic planning with Trustee corporations, and the role of lawyers in estate planning. The speaker also included a sample of Islamic Intermediate Will in his notes and also a copy of the e-Wakaf.

18 March 2011

PDC Seminar on Recent Tax Cases

S. Saravana Kumar and Siti Fatimah Mohd Shahrom from Lee Hishammuddin Allen and Gledhill presented the seminar on 18 March 2011 at the KL Bar Auditorium. The seminar was attended by 46 participants. The cases that were covered at the seminar were CH Sdn Bhd v Ketua Pengarah Hasil Dalam Negeri, MHL Sdn Bhd v Ketua Pengarah Hasil Dalam Negeri, LKC & Anor v Ketua Pengarah Hasil Dalam Negeri, Ketua Pangarah Hasil Dalam Negeri v Abdul Jalil bin Haji Hassan, Au How Cheong Sdn Bhd v Ketua Pengarah Hasil Dalam Negeri and MD Sdn Bhd v Ketua Pengarah Hasil Dalam Negeri.

19 March 2011

1st KL Bar Young Lawyers Committee Meeting of 2011/2012

The Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee (“KLYLC”) held their first meeting for the term 2011/2012 at the KL Bar Auditorium. The meeting attracted approximately 70 very excited, enthusiastic and energetic young lawyers including one who was only in her 6th day of pupillage! (Click here for a more detailed report and here for the photos)

21 March 2011

PDC Talk on “The Advocates Journey - From First Steps to Greatness”

The talk was presented by Hugh Selby who is a professional advocacy trainer and is attached to the Australian National University (ANU) College of Law. The talk was held at the KL Bar Auditorium at 6.30pm and was attended by 133 participants. The speaker went through 7 discussion points which addressed the aspects of control which were Maintaining the illusion of Confidence, one adaptable Case Map from first fact gathering to the Federal Court, The what why and how of the Communications Triangle, Crafting each Witness’s Story, Confess and Avoid, Cross Indoctrination and Taking Charge in the moment. (Click here for a more detailed report)

22 March 2011

PDC Seminar on Preparation and Conducting Civil Trials

Colin Andrew Pereira from the firm Goh Wong Pereira and Sanjeev Kumar Rasiah from the firm Sanjeev Kumar presented the seminar on 22 March 2011 at the KL Bar Auditorium. It was attended by 135 participants. The speakers went through the preliminaries on preparing agreed facts and issues to be tried, summary of case, agreed bundle of documents and witness statements. They also went through the steps of conducting a trial which included the opening speech, examination in chief, cross examination re-examination and evidential issues. Participants were also given a sample of the Plaintiff’s and Defendant’s opening speech.

23 March 2011

PDC Seminar on Human Rights Law, Advocacy and Activism

The seminar was conducted by Amer Hamzah Arshad from Zain and Co on 23 March 2011 at the KL Bar Auditorium. It was attended by 38 participants. The seminar started with a group workshop on Human Rights case studies where the participants were divided into 10 groups. Each group had to work on a case study which they were to present at the end of the seminar. The participants were also given reading materials prior to the seminar to prepare them for the group session. The areas that were covered at the seminar were International Human Rights Law (Treaties and Instruments), Limitations of Human Rights, Human Rights and Law, state of Human Rights in Malaysia and what a lawyer can do.

Prepared by: Melissa Linda Dass

Report on PDC Talk on The Advocates Journey – From First Steps to Greatness on 21.03.2011

2011-04-05T10:57:00.009+08:00

On 21-3-2011, Mr. Hugh Selby presented a talk titled The Advocates Journey – From First Steps to Greatness.

A total of 133 participants attended the said seminar.

As a brief introduction, Mr. Hugh Selby is a professional advocacy trainer and is attached to the Australian National University College of Law program. He teaches and writes about court craft (a range of techniques that are useful to advocates and witnesses in courts and tribunals). He trains experienced advocates and expert witnesses, police and law students, drawing upon teaching methods he has developed over the years. He has been teach advocacy technique to lawyers since 1986 and has taught in Australia, Malaysia, Japan and the USA.

He started the talk by handing over a 3-page summary to the participants regarding the aspects he would be covering. It was highlighted to the participants that on the said summary, there is an empty column on the right. The purpose of which is for participants to make their notes. He then advised that such a format ought to be adopted in submissions to enable the judge to make notes as well.

It was emphasised throughout the talk that underlying the advocate’s art is the ability to control each and all of one’s self, the space, the interaction with any witness and the emphasis, timing and flow of the issues that are taken up in questioning or submissions.

The following areas were discussed during the course of the talk and summarised as follows:

1. Maintaining the illusion of Confidence

· The movement of the toes of the advocate ought to be synchronized with the speed on his/her voice hence ensuring that he or she does not speak too fast or too slow;

· Drinking a glass of water to buy time to think;

· Preparing a checklist on points where the advocate knows he/she will forget in a situation where he/she is anxious;

· Have the witness to face the judge to enable facial recognition;

· The advocate is to look towards the direction of the judge and not the witness;

· Prepare a list of the topics and areas before the start of trial. This will enable the the judge and the witness to know what will generally transpire during trial.

2. One adaptable Case Map from first fact gathering to the Federal Court

· During the course of determining legal issues, one is advised to write one’s thoughts on a board in non-linear and randomized placement of circles. The purpose of this is no one particular fact / issue is given priority;

· Once the legal issues are determined, facts should then be assigned to each issue to ascertain what is there and what is missing;

· The priority of issues, facts and witnesses should be in the following sequence:-Best – Worst – Second Best

· The rule of thumb is to always have the 2nd best issue, fact and witness as the last.

3. The what, why and how of the Communications Triangle

· Always create and sustain confidence in the witness;

· The unfavourable aspects of the witness’ evidence ought to be sandwiched between the best aspect and the 2nd best aspect.

4. Crafting each Witness’ Story

· The story should progress from one dimensional (the simple, open questions), to two dimensional (adding motion and time), to three dimensional (adding depth);

· Participants were advised to picture themselves as the parrot on Captain John Silver’s shoulder. Instead of Captain John Silver, the participant is to visualize him/her on the witness’ shoulder, bringing the witness through the sequence of events as if he/she is going through it himself/herself;

· The advocate should avoid leading on an issue by going back / out to a neutral place and then crawling back towards that goal;

· The advocate should declare the topic or that there is going to be a change of topic before embarking on it;

5. Cross Indoctrination

· Starting your submissions in the guise of questions put to the opponent’s witness;

· Do not prepare a list of cross examination questions as the advocate would find himself/herself restricted;

· The opponent’s witness’ total response (what they say and how they say it) is the fuel for the advocate’s next question or line of questions;

· Success is when the judge answers your questions before the witness because then the judge has persuaded him or herself;

· If the advocate is experiencing a ‘brain freeze’ moment, his/her perception of time is wrong. The key is to look ‘wise’ and not panic;

· After the court proceedings, the advocate should take a moment to reflect and analyse what went well and what went wrong. The advocate should learn from this self-reflection.

6. Taking Charge in the moment

· Moments of brilliance reflect the emotional intuition that is the sum of the advocate’s experience;

· To build the mental reference library i.e. to read a witness requires an active and reflective thinking approach;

· Technique is generic, style is personal;

· Never under-estimate the power of silence the advocate has on a witness.

Prepared by: Choo Dee Wei

Flowchart of the e-filing system

2011-03-29T10:03:00.000+08:00

1st KL Bar Young Lawyers Committee Meeting of 2011/2012

2011-03-25T20:11:00.002+08:00

19 March 2011, Saturday – The Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee (“KLYLC”) held their first meeting for the term 2011/2012 at the KL Bar Auditorium. Despite an unusual cold and rainy Saturday morning (an ideal condition to sleep in), the meeting nonetheless attracted approximately 70 very excited, enthusiastic and energetic young lawyers including one who was only in her 6^th day of pupillage!

After some light refreshments which included coffee and sandwiches, the meeting began with a brief welcome address by Chair of the Committee, Kenneth Wong Poh Lim followed by an ice-breaker session led by Yohendra Nadarajan and Deputy Chair of the Committee, Daniel Albert. The pink KL YLC T-shirt was made into a “ball” and tossed around between members, whereby he/she gives a brief introduction and to say something special about themselves if they caught the ‘ball’. The KLYLC is indeed very special as we had a Spanish dancer, a Rabbit, plenty of rowdy football fans and one who claims he walks like a duck.

After things got off to a great start, Kenneth Wong unveiled a slide presentation on ideas of what is to come for the KLYLC in 2011/2012, which inter alia, included the creation of sub units i.e. YL Empower, Heartz YL, YL Connectz , YL.net and YL Helpdesk. The crowd was not only attracted to the very colourful and animated presentation but also to its background music from the hippest album out there i.e. Radio Demokratika, an album produced and created by lawyers!

Immediately after the presentation, the respective sub unit heads provided a brief explanation and introduction on their respective units. The meeting then continued with prolific figure of the Bar, Edmund Bon sharing his vast experience as a young lawyer not too long ago. The inspirational speaker ensured that his sharing included key words such as ‘collate, mobilise, empower, free your mind, gatekeeper etc’.

After a short 10 minutes break, members were split into 3 groups for a brainstorming session on ideas and aspirations for the KLYLC. At approximately 1.00pm, the group discussion ended to make way for a final sharing session. Chair of the Committee invited newly elected member of the Bar Council, Richard Wee who gave invaluable advice and pointers to the new blood of the legal profession. He inspired the crowd with quotes such as, ‘Young lawyers don’t do. They represent’ and ‘You are the common law’.

The crowd was also fortunate to have newly elected Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee (KLBC) Chairman, Brendan Navin Siva and KLBC Representative to the Bar Council, HR Dipendra giving their practical advice to young lawyers of today. The meeting ended at approximately 1.45pm. Till then, we hope to see more young lawyers joining us for the 2^nd KLYLC meeting at BukitGambang Resort City for a meeting cum retreat in April 2011!

A joint web report prepared by Joanne Leong, edited by Johnson Lim.

Earth Hour 2011 on 26.03.2011 @ 8.30pm

2011-03-23T11:07:00.001+08:00

Dear KL Bar Members and Pupils-In-Chambers,

The KL Bar Environmental and Humanities Committee would like to remind members of the Bar, pupils, family and friends to support this annual global event which started in Sydney in 2007 known as Earth Hour.

This Saturday, 26 March 2011 at 8.30pm let us switch off our lights and shut down as many electrical equipment as possible and be one with the global movement for at least an hour.

We urged you to contemplate the future of our planet by starting to take those little steps to reduce our personal carbon footprint – reduce, reuse and recycle.

For further information on the Earth Hour, please visit www.earthhour.org

Warm regards,

Roger Chan Weng Keng

Chairperson

Environmental and Humanities Committee

1st KL Bar Young Lawyers Committee Meeting

2011-03-16T18:02:00.000+08:00

We are just 3 days away…..

From our very own first KLYLC Meeting this Saturday, 19 March 2011 (10.30am @ KL Bar Auditorium - casual wear)!

Why you WOULD want to attend -

- We will be unveiling our KL YLC Retreat 2011, which will be happening on April 16-17 (details would only be revealed this Saturday and spaces are limited!!) and there's a secret catch for it. Come for the meeting this Saturday and we will let you know!

- We have invited (mysterious) 'passionate' members of the Bar to share with us some stuff.

Why you SHOULD attend -

- A brand NEW YLC structure would be unveiled and new units under the KLYLC would be revealed too!

- The visions of KLYLC would be presented as well

Why you MUST attend -

- We need each of you guys to help out in carrying out those proposed programmes

- YLC need fresh faces with fresh ideas. It's our committee, not mine, not anyone - but OURS.

If you are interested to join us, kindly email Melissa at melissa@klbar.org.my.

Kenneth Wong Poh Lim
Chairperson
Young Lawyers Committee

UPDATE NO. 2 : Implementation of the E-Filing System in KL Courts

2011-03-10T14:54:00.005+08:00

The two main items we are working on after the meeting on Monday are:

(a) The EFS Online portal application process. We have informed the service provider that a more user-friendly explanation and illustration of how to apply for and use the EFS Online portal must be prepared for the benefit of members. We have met up again with Formis and SCAN Associates Berhad and we have gone through some of the steps on how to simplify and clarify the process of application for members. We will meet up again with SCAN Associates Berhad next Monday, at which time they have informed us that they would have reviewed the materials and come up with a more user-friendly guide or step by step manual and they will look into placing all application forms, guides, etc on the E-filing website.

(b) Internet banking for payment of filing fees - a crucial part of the E-Filing system using the EFS Online portal is payment of filing fees online. Presently what is envisaged is payment using e-banking or internet banking. The issue is that all law firm bank accounts are regulated strictly by the Solicitors Accounts Rules, 1990. The issues inherent in this must first be examined and discussions must first be held with the respective Banks to ascertain how to move forward with this. This has been conveyed to the Judiciary.

Some further information for members:

(i) The service provider is looking into setting up a booth in the lobby of the KL Court complex for submission of application forms for the OCs and Roaming IDs. This would mean members can have their application forms checked before submission and members need not have to deliver their application forms directly to SCAN or MSC Trustgate;

(ii) The Roaming IDs are individual and must be applied for by an individual lawyer. The Roaming ID is required for the said lawyer to digitally sign the cause papers being filed. The Roaming ID is not transferable, i.e. if the said lawyer leaves the employment of the law firm, a new Roaming ID must be applied for by the law firm.

(iii) The Organisation Certificate (OC) is applied for by the law firm. It is the certificate that allows the law firm to perform the e-filing from the law firm’s computer. It is also non-transferable.

Please email us at brendan@klbar.org.my and yati@klbar.org.my if you encounter any problems or have any queries that are not satisfactorily answered or resolved by the helpdesk.

Regards

Brendan Navin Siva

Chairman

Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee

Updates on the Implementation of the E-Filing System

2011-03-09T17:16:00.003+08:00

Further to the report on the implementation of the e-filing system published on 08 March 2011, kindly take note of the following updates:

1) Briefing sessions

There will now be two (2) briefing sessions every Tuesday and Thursdays, at 3.00pm and 4.00pm respectively. The venue of the briefings has been moved from Level 7 to Bilik Anggerik at Level 6.

2) Roaming IDs

The cost of purchasing a Roaming ID from MSC Trustgate.com Sdn. Bhd. is RM40.00 per year and not RM50.00 per year as previously reported.

3) Manual counters for cases filed prior to 01.03.2011

The manual counter for cases filed before 1.3.2011 is Counter 12 located at Level 1.

4) Enquiries/extraction of draft Orders

For enquiries and extraction of draft Orders for cases filed before 2010, kindly proceed to the Civil Counter at Level B1.

For enquiries and extractions of draft Order for cases filed in 2010 and later, kindly proceed to Counter 12 at Level 1.

Syahredzan Johan

Chairperson

KL Bar Information Technology & Communications Committee

09.03.2011

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE E-FILING SYSTEM

2011-03-08T11:27:00.004+08:00

By BC Circular 045/2011 dated 2 March 2011, members of the Bar were informed of the implementation of the e-filing system in the Kuala Lumpur Courts (see http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/notices_for_members/launch_of_e_filing_system.html).

On 7 March 2011, a meeting was arranged with the Judiciary and Formis Software & Technologies Sdn Bhd (the Service Provider) and was attended by the Chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Bar, the Chairman of the Selangor Bar and members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee. The meeting was also attended by the Vice President and Secretary of the Malaysian Bar.

We set out below in brief the matters discussed and clarification sought and obtained at the said meeting. Some matters remain unresolved and we hope to continue to update members with further developments.

1. Which courts have implemented the e-filing system?

Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court (Civil), Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court (Civil), Kuala Lumpur High Court (Civil / Commercial / Family / Bankruptcy / RKKK). E-filing is not yet implemented for criminal matters and other divisions not specifically mentioned above.

2. What cause papers have to be filed using the e-filing system?

All new suits / actions / originating process commenced on or after 1 March 2011 must be filed using the new e-filing system. All cause papers filed in the above proceedings – summons in chambers / affidavits / etc - would thereafter have to be filed using the e-filing system.

3. What about cases filed before 1 March 2011?

Cases filed before 1 March 2011 will continue to operate under the old manual filing system, i.e. if you are filing an interlocutory application in a suit filed before 1 March 2011, it would still be filed using the manual filing system.

The filing counters for manual filing have been moved to accommodate the e-filing counters. The manual filing counters are now located as follows:

High Court (Commercial) Level 2 (Right Wing)

High Court (Civil) Level 1 (Left Wing)

High Court (Bankrutpcy) Level 2 (Right Wing)

High Court (Family) Level 2 (Right Wing)

High Court (RKKK) Level 2 (Left Wing)

4. How is the e-filing system being implemented?

There are 2 options made available to members. One is to subscribe for and utilise the e-filing portal which would enable filing to be done online from your office. The other option is to bring the document (hard copy or soft copy) to the Service Bureau set up in Court where the document can be scanned and filed electronically by the court staff at the court registry.

5. Will there be charges if filing is done at the Service Bureau?

For the first 3 months, there will be no charges for using the Service Bureau. There will charges thereafter. The rates have not been fixed as yet and we will inform members as soon as we are notified of the rates.

6. Are there any issues about filing using the Service Bureau?

We have been informed that there are 13 counters in the lower court registry and 10 counters in the high court registry. Express counters have been set up for the filing of single documents as opposed to multiple document filings.

This does not however mean there would be no delays. During the initial period, we expect there will be some delay and complications arising from the implementation of a new system and the use of the system by almost everyone for the purposes of filing.

7. Why do I need to use the e-filing portal if the Service Bureau is in place?

Members are urged to consider their own law firm requirements for filing and to assess whether they should utilise the e-filing portal for online submissions from your respective offices instead of using the Service Bureau. It is expected that law firms that do not file many new claims or originating process or do not have many cause papers to file in any given month may wish to use the Service Bureau whereas those that anticipate higher levels of filing may instead find the e-filing portal to be more suitable.

The costs of utilising the e-filing portal will be addressed below.

8. How does the Service Bureau work?

Step 1 : Fill up a brief Service Bureau Form which asks for the name of your law firm, date, contact number, email address and number of documents. Proceed to Counter 5 and show the staff the documents you wish to file. The documents may be in hard copy form or soft copy in a DVD/CD (Please take note that thumb drives or pen drives will not be accepted). Hard copy documents must not be stapled. You may only file 10 documents per counter transaction. The staff will inspect the documents to ensure it is all in order and hand it back to you together with a queue number.

Step 2 : Your number will be called at Counter 14, 15 or 16. You are to hand over the Service Bureau Form and the documents to be filed (in hard copy or soft copy). You will be given a Scanning Reference Number (SRN).

Step 3 : You will then have to wait for the documents to be processed and scanned (if hard copy) and your number will be called again to give you a payment slip at Counter 17. At this point you will obtain the Case Number if the document you filed was the Writ / Summons or originating process.

Step 4 : With the payment slip, you may make payment at the Payment Counter or alternatively make payment using internet banking back at your office. An official receipt will be issued upon payment.

Step 5 : Once the document is ready for extraction, it will be emailed to you and made available on the website. You may print the same at your office for the purposes of serving the originating process.

The counter numbers mentioned above are applicable for the lower court registry. The high court registry counter numbers may differ.

9. What are some of the issues that have been encountered at the Service Bureau?

There have been instances where the document is incomplete or not in the proper order.

There have also been instances of the email address on the Service Bureau Form being incorrect (It is suspected that some of the filing clerks do not know the law firm email address and either do not fill in the email address or they just write down some address to complete the form). If this happens, the law firm will not be notified when the document is ready for extraction. A dedicated email address may in the circumstances be a good option.

Filing done in the afternoon and not completed by 4 pm will require collection of the payment slip the next day. This means the filing clerk must return the next day to collect the payment slip and make payment. If he does not return the next day, the transaction will be void and the filing process must be started all over again.

Documents in soft copy must be saved in separate PDF documents in accordance with filing fee payment requirements, i.e. if it is a lower court matter, the summons and statement of claim can be in one PDF document but in the high court, the writ of summons and the statement of claim have to be saved in two separate PDF documents as the charges for the same are separate charges. Likewise, you cannot save a SIC and affidavit in the same PDF document.

10. In what format must the document be in if I wanted to bring a soft copy for filing?

It must be in PDF format and in a DVD or CD. It is advisable to only burn onto the said DVD or CD the documents intended for filing on that day. It is advisable to create a folder within the DVD / CD which states the name of the parties and the PDF documents saved within that folder e.g the Folder can be preferably named “ABC v XYZ” and the documents within it preferably ought to be named “ABCvXYZ-Writ of Summons” or “ABCvXYZ-Statement of Claim”.

11. What is the advantage of bringing the document in soft copy form?

If it is brought to the Service Bureau in soft copy form, time is not spent by the court staff to scan the document and therefore it will be processed much faster and waiting time would be reduced.

12. What happens to the hard copies or DVD / CD that I hand over for filing?

It will be returned to you when your Case Number is given to you in Step 3 above. This means you could use a rewriteable DVD / CD.

If it is filed in hard copy, the hard copy will also be returned to you at the point when you are given your case number.

There are many hard copies and DVDs not claimed or collected at the counter after filing. Please ensure that your hard copies or DVDs/CDs are collected from the registry. We are informed that if they remain uncollected for more than 1 day, they will be disposed of.

13. What about filing of documents by law firms outside Kuala Lumpur?

Members have the option of utilising the e-filing portal online from their offices.

There are also plans to set up Service Bureaus in the major cities such as Penang, Johor Bharu, Ipoh and Shah Alam for the purposes of e-filing of documents in Kuala Lumpur courts. This is expected to be in place by the end of March 2011.

We have also been assured that all documents received by the KL courts (by courier or by post) from outside Kuala Lumpur with the correct filing fees and filing documents will be processed by the Service Bureau accordingly.

14. What about online submission of documents using the e-filing portal?

In order to utilise the e-filing portal, members must access the website http://efiling.kehakiman.gov.my and view the step by step guide at the “Getting Started” section.

Briefly, it requires members to do the following:

(a) Ensure that the software and hardware capabilities of your law firm are compatible with what is required to utilise the e-filing portal. This includes downloading Mozilla Firefox 3.5 or Google Chrome 8 and Java Runtime 5, installing operation systems Windows XP or later version, downloading PDF Version 10 or later version, etc. The PC requirements, the broadband speed requirements and the scanning capacity are also mentioned there;

(b) Purchasing / Acquiring the Organisation Certificate (OC) from MSC Trustgate.com Sdn Bhd. This certificate is required for digital certification and security verification of the e-filing of documents. The cost is presently fixed at RM1,500-00 for a 2-year period. The application form is available on the website.

Purchasing Individual Roaming IDs from MSC Trustgate.com Sdn Bhd – at least one Roaming ID is required. The cost is RM50 per year. The application form is available on the website.

The number of OCs and Roaming IDs would depend on the law firm filing requirements.

15. Where can I get more information?

There are briefings on Level 7 of the KL Court Complex on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3pm. Please ask the enquiry counter on the ground floor for directions. You may send your office manager or any representative for the briefing.

There is also a Helpline 03-6209 4234 and an enquiry counter at the Service Bureau at the Ground Floor of the KL Court Complex.

16. What are some of the issues the Bar Council and KL Bar Committee are working on in respect of the e-filing system?

There are many issues that remain unresolved. Some of them are:

(a) The costs of the e-filing portal and the purchase of the OCs and Roaming IDs. Representations have been made that these costs should be lower for access to justice purposes;

(b) The charges for filing using the Service Bureau after 3 months. Representations have been made that the pricing structure must take into account access to justice issues, i.e. the charges may have to be lower for magistrates court matters and for impecunious litigants. Additionally, the charges cannot be fixed at a higher level with the intention of diverting users into utilising the e-filing portal;

(c) The mandatory utilisation of e-filing without the concurrent option of manual filing. If e-filing is to be implemented, it must be done gradually not a wholesale change of the system. If the e-filing system is to proceed, then the number of Service Bureau counters must be able to cope with the high volume of filings;

(d) The bandwidth speed at the law firms to meet the requirements for e-filing. E-filing requires high speed broadband and it will take time for law firms to subscribe to and install the same. There is also a concern that some of the ISPs presently cannot guarantee effective and efficient high speed broadband access to all areas of the Klang Valley, let alone the rest of Malaysia;

(e) The application form from MSC Trustgate requires particulars that law firms do not possess. The standard application form requires a business registration number or company registration number and other details a law firm would not possess. We are working with Formis to revise the application form.

(f) Payment of filing fees when utilising the e-filing portal would be by internet banking and this would require law firms to arrange for internet banking facilities for payment. We need to resolve certain issues with the 6 identified banks in respect of the level of security and authorisation for internet banking for law firm bank accounts and how to reconcile such services and payments using such services with the law firm accounts presently maintained.

We will keep members updated as to any developments as soon as we resolve any of the above issues. Please also email us at brendan@klbar.org.my and yati@klbar.org.my if you encounter any problems or have any queries that are not satisfactorily answered or resolved by the helpdesk.

Regards

Brendan Navin Siva

Chairman

Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee

Results of the KL Bar AGM Elections

2011-02-23T18:59:00.004+08:00

The 19th Annual General Meeting of the Kuala Lumpur Bar was held this afternoon (23.02.2011) at the Auditorium, Level 3 Wisma MCA, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. The quorum of 331 was reached at 2.50 p.m. Results of the election as follows:

Chairman: Brendan Navin Siva

Committee members

Ravinder Singh Dhalliwal (Ravin)

Roger Chan Weng Keng

Harleen Leena

Syahredzan Johan

Khaizan Sharizad Ab Razak (Sherrie)

Jeremiah R Gurusamy

Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu

Choo Dee Wei

Muhendaran Suppiah

Kenneth Wong Poh Lim

Representative to the Bar Council: H R Dipendra

Report on the Launch of the Malaysian Bar Council’s MyConstitution Campaign for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

2011-02-22T17:32:00.004+08:00

The Launch of the Malaysian Bar Council’s MyConstitution Campaign for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur was held on 16 February 2011 at HELP University College. Close to 150 enthusiastic students were present at the launch.

The emcee for the launch was Ravin Singh, the Chairperson of the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre, Kuala Lumpur. The launch was officiated by Anand Ponnudurai the Chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee with a welcoming speech and was followed by Mr Lua Bo Feng, the Constitutional and Administrative Law lecturer from the University College who gave a speech on behalf of HELP.

The Deputy Chairperson’s of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee, Maha Balakrishnan and Syahredzan Johan then gave an introduction of the Campaign and explained their aims and vision for the Campaign. The launch ended with a viewing of 8 Rakyat Service Advertisements and a question and answer session lead by Maha and Syah. Copies of the Rakyat Guides and various other merchandise were sold outside the Auditorium after the launch.

The MyConstitution Campaign was started off by the the Bar Council’s Constitutional Law Committee in 2009. The inaugural launch of the Campaign was held on 13 November 2009 and it was officiated by Datuk Liew Vui Keong, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

Throughout the Campaign’s journey, various State Governments across the country have hosted and launched State-level phases of the Campaign such as Sarawak, Sabah, Kedah and Selangor.

The Campaign seeks to simplify key aspects of the Federal Constitution for The Malaysian public through a series of 9 booklets known as the The Rakyat Guides and public service advertisements also known as the Rakyat Service Advertisements’. To date, 8 booklets and advertisements have been published and the 9th is on the way. The titles of the booklets are:

1. What is the Federal Constitution?

2. Constitutional Institutions and Separation of Powers

3. Federal – State Relations

4. Parliament

5. The Executive

6. The Judiciary

7. Sabah & Sarawak

8. Fundamental Liberties and Citizenship

9. Democracy and Elections

The vision and mission of the Campaign is to promote the concept of constitutionalism and rule of just law, raise awareness and educate the rakyat on the Federal Constitution, to document and respond to the constitutional issues that arise and to conduct research and advise the Bar Council on constitutional matters.

For more information on the Campaign, you can visit the following sites:

www.perlembagaanku.com

www.malaysianbar.org.my/constitutional_law_committee

www.facebook.com/MyConstitution

www.twitter.com/MyConsti

www.youtube.com/user/PerlembagaanKu

Statement of the Information Technology Committee (ITC) of Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee

2011-02-21T09:54:00.002+08:00

We make reference to the recent announcement by the Government of Malaysia of their proposals to amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA), to include online content.

ITC acknowledges that the proposed amendments are yet unknown.

Nonetheless, ITC would implore and advocate that any amendments to the PPPA ought to be inline with the Right of the Freedom of Speech enshrined in the Malaysian Federal Constitution.

ITC is also guided by the MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantee, which guarantees no censorship on the Net.

Any form of censorship or impediment to this enshrined right would be unconstitutional and a step backwards for Malaysia.

ITC wishes to highlight that at a recent Information Technology Law Forum hosted by ITC, where the Honourable Minister of Information, Communications and Culture, Dato’ Seri Rais Yatim was invited, and the Honourable Deputy Minister Dato’ Maglin Dennis D’Cruz, had attended on behalf of the Minister; the Deputy Minister in his speech had said that the Government of Malaysia is committed to defend the Freedom of Speech in the Internet.

The ITC would welcome any amendments to the Law which would flourish the growth and use of IT in Malaysia.

Education, discussion and persuasion ought to be the principles of the Government of Malaysia in educating the users of the Internet of their responsibilities and accountability; when uploading contents in the Internet.

Censorship, restrictions and suppression cannot and must not be the principles in governing usage of the Internet.

Information Technology Committee

Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee

February 2011

Change of Venue: KL Bar's Launch of the Malaysian Bar Councils MyConstitution Campaign on 16.02.2011

2011-02-11T10:12:00.006+08:00

Invitation to The KL Bar's Launch of the Malaysian Bar Council’s MyConstitution Campaign on 16.02.2011

As you might already know, the Bar Council’s Constitutional Law Committee (ConstiLC) has launched its Kempen Perlembagaanku/MyConstitution Campaign (“the Campaign”) on 13 November 2009.

The KL Bar will be launching the Campaign for Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur on 16 February 2011 at 2.00 p.m. at Auditorium 1, Kompleks Pejabat Damansara (KPD), Block A, HELP University College, Jalan Dungun, 50490, Kuala Lumpur. Admission is FREE.

Click here for the flyer. Should you need more details, kindly contact Melissa Dass at the KL Bar Secretariat at 03-26920745 or email melissa@klbar.org.my.

Report on the KL Bar Conveyancing Hi Tea and Get-together 2011

2011-02-08T10:24:00.004+08:00

KL Bar Conveyancing Practice Committee had successfully organised a Hi-Tea and Get-together event on 25.01.2011.

The event was held at the Annexe Gallery, Central Market, Kuala Lumpur and was attended by about 100 Conveyancing Lawyers and invited guests. Attending guests included the Director, Deputy Directors and Senior Officers of the related government agencies namely from the Wilayah Land Office, Selangor Land Office, Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia and the Valuation Office of Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.

This event was the first event ever held especially for the Conveyancing Lawyers. It is my hope that this event could be held annually as an avenue for conveyancing lawyers to gather, exchange ideas and foster better relationship with the related government agencies.

Nurul Muhaniza Binti Hanafi

Chairperson

Conveyancing Practice Committee

19th Annual General Meeting of the Kuala Lumpur Bar

2011-01-17T09:50:00.000+08:00

NOTICE
19TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
KUALA LUMPUR BAR
[Pursuant to Section 70(1) of the Legal Profession Act 1976
as amended by the Legal Profession (Amendment) Act 2006]

NOTICE is hereby given that the 19TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the KUALA LUMPUR BAR will be held on WEDNESDAY, 23RD FEBRUARY 2011 at 2:00 P.M. at the MCA AUDITORIUM, LEVEL 3, WISMA MCA, 163 JALAN AMPANG, KUALA LUMPUR.

Pursuant to Section 70(2A) of the Legal Profession (Amendment) Act 2006, the quorum shall be five per cent of the total number of members of the State Bar. As at 14th January 2011 there are 6623 members in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and therefore the quorum is 331 members.

The Committee urges all members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar to attend this meeting.

KINDLY TAKE NOTE THAT PURSUANT TO SECTION 70(2B) OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION (AMENDMENT) ACT 2006, THE QUORUM HAS TO BE PRESENT WITHIN ONE HOUR FROM THE TIME APPOINTED FOR HOLDING THE MEETING.

We therefore request and invite all our members to attend this meeting in good time.

Dated this 14th day of January 2011.

H.R. DIPENDRA
Honorary Secretary

N.B.
• The Right Honourable Chief Judge of Malaya and the President of the Industrial Court have very kindly agreed to allow members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar who wish to attend the above AGM to request for an adjournment of their cases fixed for hearing/mention on 23 February 2011 at the Kuala Lumpur Courts and the Industrial Court respectively. Please apply early for adjournments. Click here for copy of the letters.

• Registration Counters will be opened at 12.30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served from 1:00 p.m. onwards before the commencement of the meeting.

• Wisma MCA is located close to the Ampang Park Putra LRT Station and members are encouraged to use public transportation, as parking spaces may be limited.

• Kindly take note that pursuant to Section 70(2B) of the Legal Profession (Amendment) Act 2006, the meeting shall be adjourned to the following day at the same time and place if the quorum is not present within one hour from the time appointed for holding the meeting.

Reference Proceedings in Respect and Memory of Departed Members of the KL Bar

2011-01-14T13:26:00.000+08:00

A Reference will be held in respect and memory of the following departed members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar on 10 February 2011 (Thursday) before Y.A. Dato’ Aziah bt Ali who has kindly agreed to preside over the proceedings.

1. Encik Mohamed bin Dato' Mahbob
2. YABhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Haji Mohamed Yusoff bin Haji Mohamed
3. Mr Leong See Ming
4. Mr Sng Kim Kuay
5. Mr Ngae Koh Hieng
6. Mr Rajasingam a/l Ratnasingam
7. Mr Satish P.S. Nair

Date : 10 February 2011 (Thursday)

Time : 2.30 p.m.

Venue : Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur
Bahagian Rayuan & Kuasa-Kuasa Khas 1
Aras 3, Sayap Kanan
Kompleks Mahkamah Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Duta
Kuala Lumpur

All members of the Bar attending the Reference Proceedings are kindly requested to be robed.

Light refreshments will be served after the Proceedings in the Bar Room on Level 5 (Left Wing).

H.R. Dipendra
Honorary Secretary
Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee

Relevan Online

2011-01-03T11:00:00.003+08:00

The Malaysia Middle Temple Association (TMMTA)

By Sathish Ramachandran

I have such poignant memories of the time I spent at Middle Temple. I especially remember:

visiting the 4 Inns of Court in London, short listing Lincoln’s Inn and Middle Temple and deciding on Middle Temple on account of its Library;

becoming a Student Member of Middle Temple in the Summer Holidays after my 2nd Year of reading Law at the University of Kent at Canterbury and then Dining at Middle Temple Hall;

thoroughly enjoying the Dinners at Middle Temple that I dined 32 times instead of the mandatory 24;

attending the Special Dinners held to commemorate the visit of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (as Honorary Bencher, in 1992) and Her Royal Highness Diana, Princess of Wales (as Royal Bencher, in 1993);

meeting Princess Diana and listening to her speak of her visit to the Taj Mahal and her 2 young children;

Council of Legal Education’s Trinity Bar Examinations 1993; and

signing with trepidation the Roll of Barristers on the night of my Call to the Bar as we were each asked to sign the book while standing up and when it was my turn, the black ink pen ran somewhat dry.

Over the past 5 years, Malaysian Barristers from Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple and Gray’s Inn have, in that order, each formed a Malaysian Chapter of their Inn. TMMTA (pronounced “tim-ta”) is the acronym for “The Malaysia Middle Temple Association”, which is, finally, work-in-progress. I am grateful particularly to the Under-Treasurer Air Commodore Peter Hilling, for his encouragement and assistance, and to Ms. Kristine McGlothlin, the Editor of The Middle Templar, for giving me the opportunity to inform and update everyone on the progress of and our plans for TMMTA.

The impetus for the formation of TMMTA was occasioned around May 2009, when I discussed the idea with The Right Honourable Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin bin Abdullah, a former Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Malaysia between 2000 and 2003 and a Middle Templar (call date – 19th July 1966). Tun Dzaiddin himself had been contemplating the formation of a Middle Temple society in Malaysia. With the assistance of the Secretariat of the Bar Council of Malaysia, the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee and Middle Temple itself, I alerted fellow Middle Templars in Malaysia and 95 of them have todate registered their interest in becoming members of TMMTA.

The Under-Treasurer alerted me to the fact that Tan Sri Cecil WM Abraham (call date - May 1969), a very accomplished litigator and arbitrator in Malaysia and a Door Tenant at 3 Verulam Buildings in London had, in September 2008, met with the Under-Treasurer and Master Christopher Symonds at Middle Temple to discuss the formation of a Malaysian Chapter. With Tun Dzaiddin’s guidance, I approached Tan Sri Cecil and we decided to combine our efforts to form TMMTA.

On 3rd April 2010, 24 Malaysian Middle Templars met in Kuala Lumpur for Afternoon Tea (hosted by Tun Dzaiddin) and agreed to constitute a Pro-Tem Committee to undertake the formation of TMMTA. The requisite application for the registration of TMMTA as a Society under the Malaysian Societies Act 1966 will be submitted to the Registrar of Societies in Kuala Lumpur before the end of 2010 and we hope to launch TMMTA by mid-2011.

I estimate that there are close to 600 Middle Templars in Malaysia. We are privileged to have had 3 Middle Templars as former Heads of the Malaysian Judiciary – Tun Suffian Hashim, Tun Salleh Abbas and Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah.

The most illustrious Middle Templar from Malaysia is the late Tun Mohamed Suffian bin Hashim, who read Law at Gonville & Caius College Cambridge, was called to Middle Temple in 1941, who was the Lord President of the Federal Court of Malaysia between 1974 and 1982 and who died on 26th September 2000. In a Tribute published in October 2000, the Bar Council of Malaysia eulogised Tun Suffian as “Malaysia’s Greatest Judicial Figure”.

Tun Mohamed Salleh bin Abbas (call date -1955), who read Law at the University of Wales Aberystwyth, was Lord President of the Supreme Court of Malaysia between 1984 and 1988. Tun Salleh was Solicitor-General of Malaysia between 1966 and 1979, when he was appointed directly to the Federal Court presided over by Tun Suffian.

Finally, to echo the words of Dr. Deepak Chopra, it is a strange and meaningful coincidence that Tun Dzaiddin is the President of TMMTA’s Pro-Tem Committee and also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tun Suffian Foundation. Tun Dzaiddin was first appointed to the High Court of Malaya, as a Judicial Commissioner in 1979, when Tun Suffian was Lord President.

Incidentally, Tan Sri Cecil was elected by the Parliament of Middle Temple as a Bencher on 12th October 2010, while Datuk Param Cumaraswamy (from Inner Temple, 1966) was in 2003 appointed as an Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple.

If you are a Middle Templar in Malaysia, please do contact me for information and updates on TMMTA. Please register your interest in becoming a member of TMMTA. Watch this space for more news on TMMTA.

Pro-Tem Committee of TMMTA:

President: Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin bin Abdullah.

Deputy President: Tan Sri Cecil WM Abraham.

Secretary: Sathish Ramachandran.

Treasurer: Low Weng Tchung.

Committee Members: Mr. Justice Dr. Prasad Abraham JC; Honey Tan Lay Ean; Rodney Khor Say Aun.

Sathish Ramachandran was admitted of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple on 27th August 1991, Called to the Degree of the Utter Bar on 29th July 1993 and published in the common Dining Hall of the said Society on the same day. He is an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya and has been a corporate lawyer in private practice in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia since July 1994. He can be contacted via e-mail at sathish@deolgill.com.

This article was written on 20th October 2010.

Relevan Online

2010-12-23T16:29:00.002+08:00

Admission to the Bar in Kuala Lumpur

December 2010

We congratulate and welcome the following members to the Bar:

Melissa Binti Sukri
Engku Kamanurrull Zahara Binti Engku Kamarudin
Megat Syazlee Bin Mokhtarom
Loh Sit Mui
Tan Lih Choon
Norazlinda Binti Mohamed Mahidin
Philip Ryan Mathew
Alex Yeck Ju Hieng
Afifah Fatihah Binti Nawi
Seow Wei-Sheng
Norashikin Binti Amirruddin
Ahmad Faisya Bin Mohamad Bustaman
Nur Aziatulnadia Binti Roslan
Siti Nabila Binti Hamzah
Zainab Binti Mohd Ali
Intan Shafiza Binti Shahbudin
Intan Suhana Binti Mahamad Nor
Nazatul Sheera Binti Khairudin
Ida Farhanah Binti Hamzah
Nur Wahyuna Binti Wahid
Nadzirah Aminah Binti Md Nadzri
Nurul Atikah Chut Binti Jais
Noor Ilienna Rahayu Binti Ibrahim
Nur Hidayah Binti Muhammad Nor
Syafiq Faizal Bin Azmi
Lim Sze-Yin
Tan Chia Sinn
Amanda Man Mei Xen
David Tee Ken –Shen
Khong Li Yan
Yasmin Natasha Binti Muhammad Khairy Nunis
Mohammad Yashar Bin Mohamat Yatim
Shaharizat Binti Hashim
Nurul Suhaida Binti Ahmad Bukhari
Shiva Prakash a/l K Kalaiselvan
Nik Zarith Bin Nik Moustpha
Ummu Aiman Binti Mohd @ Jaafar
Nurul Shuhada Binti Ahmad Zaki
Nurulsabariah Binti Mohd
Hamida Binti Ambo
Has Syalihah Binti Mohamad Irani
Ravin a/l Karunanidhi
Farah Eliza Binti Khairi Izwan
Jocelynn Liu Wye Tynn

Relevan Online

2010-12-23T16:27:00.002+08:00

Admission to the Bar in Kuala Lumpur

November 2010

We congratulate and welcome the following members to the Bar:

Jack Tan Chee Hoe
Chan Yee Mun
Yeo Hooi Chin
Kazlinda Anith Binti Mohd Khalid
Thang Chin Wai
Jayashree a/p Vengadachalam
Foo Tiang Chuan
Chong Khin Young
Tuan Nursyazlin Nabila Bt Tuan Abdullah
Teh Izzah Saleha Binti Azman
Nor Subaiha Binti Juhari
Lalithambigai a/p Maruthaiah
Ng Siew Wee
Amy Ling Huoy Yi
Tengku Nur Azura Binti T Safiyuddeen
Nafhatun Binti Mohd Pozi
Diana Ling Fan Phing
Andrew Ewe Choon Ming
Lim Sheh Ting
Ong Poo Soon
Teoh Hooi Cheng
Lentty Stevie John
Haida Salbiah Binti Sulaiman
Aric Wong Fong Chin
Lydia Tong Yiu Shyian-Shyian
Lee Kin Hing
Yuhana Binti Juhaidi
Yeoh Eu Cheng
Sharon Khoo Tzen Jin
Chin Shang Yoon
Nor Rafidah Binti Mohd Ashmir Wong
Rajiv Premkumar
Wan Mohd Firdaus Bin W Ibrahim
Jennifer James Ilango
Nur Katrina Binti Mohamed Razif
Adlin Aimi Binti Omar
Jaqdesh Singh Johal
Geraldine Oh Kah Yan
Long Tien Jon
Gun It Gon
Lee Weng Yow
Jason Lim Shyang Ming
Chong Poh Geok
Ong Yee Chee
Voo Sin Wei
Shazana Binti Abdul Aziz
Kamalulfaizin Bin Muhamad Ideres
Azrin Razman Bin Suleiman
Naveena Kaur Gill a/p Jasmeeth Singh
Nor Rul Sahida Binti Nordin
Ng Jack Yee
Tasha Qhairunnisa Mahir
Tan Jyy Mei
Joanne Chua Tsu Fae
Tan Wei Wei
Shereen Ee Swee Ying
Wong Yen Sim
Chong Wan Ken
Lee Sit Ching
Justin Ong Ing Hou
Sheryl Lona Thomas
Natasha Melissa Boyou
Nadzrah Siti Maimunah Binti Kamaruzaman
Nur Zahrah Binti Zulkfli
Rehna Lee Perumal
Leong Hui Yee
Diana Binti Dzul’Karnain
Chu Chai Yee
Lim Yen Hwa
Krystle Loh Su-Lin
Teh Ruey Hoe
Alliff Benjamin Bin Suhaimi
Thilagavathy Rama Loo
Nurafinie Binti Mohd Fadzly
Basharuddin Bin Saad
Ahmad Aizat Bin Ab Rahman
Sharifah Nur Izzati Binti Syed Mohd Hamdan

Relevan Online

2010-12-23T16:03:00.005+08:00

Admission to the Bar in Kuala Lumpur

October 2010

We congratulate and welcome the following members to the Bar:

Sahada Binti Salihin
Chong Pei Shy
Ahmad Firdaus Bin Abdul Hamid
Lim Yew Chien
Hue Kok Chung
Steven Toh Kang-Nian
Samson Mah Chang Jun
Tee Shiau Sang
Abdullah Bin Ahmad
Ammar Bin Muhammad
Puteri Noorhazatul Ezra Binti Mohd Awal
Cheng Ket Chun
Zulhelmy Bin Hasan
Kan Ming Choi
Lee Hui Juan
Shaleni a/p Sangaran
Ong Doen Xian
Wai Cheng Cheng
Lim Ming Wang
Low Chee Ying
Elaine Koh Ru Yee
Foo Hiap Choong
Tan Huey Ping
Apalasamy a/l Appana
Nadesh a/l Ganabaskaran
Kalai Vaani a/p Maniam
Mohd Fadza Bin Ishak
Davina Marie Narayanan
Ng Ka Shing
Noraliana Binti Zainal Abidin
Wendy Lim Bia Sun
Lee Sook Chee
Tan Choon Keet
Melissa Stothard
Suren Anandan Rajah a/l Ganeshanandan
Faiza Hanna Binti Abdul Kadir Aljailani
Ng Shiow Wen
Prema a/p Subramaniam
Amritpal Alena Kaur Gill
Tey Shi Hui
Zarina Hanim Binti Ismail
Mohd Raihan Bin Abdul Khalip
Vincent Pang Hsien Tzu
Ng Jo-Leen
Chen Sue Ann
Lau Hiang Ping
Kathlyn Lee Sue-In
Chan Yew Hoong
Mohd Shukri Bin Zulkipli
Muhammad Nabil Fikri Bin Mat Aji

Relevan Online

2010-12-22T16:00:00.000+08:00

Admission to the Bar in Kuala Lumpur

September 2010

We congratulate and welcome the following members to the Bar:

Lai Puei-Yiee
Tan Ying Min
Toh Lee Khim
Kong Suet Mei
Geraldine Su Mi Mi
Cheryl Denise Thean
Carissa Ee Mei Theng
Saw Jen Vin
Yee Yueh Huann
Wong Horng Yang
Khoo Seo Ju
Mohd Zain Bin Ibrahim
Khor Boon How
Aw Ee Va
Foo Siew Li
Tham Hui Ying
Yee Kim Hoong
Chan Chia Min
Chandramaran a/l Paranjodi
Malarselvi a/p Sanmugam
Chang Aik Ming
Jenine Anand Gill
Seet Wan Zheng
Nurul Asyikin Binti Bidin
Ahmad Shahrizal Bin Abdul Aziz
Sophia Ting Sing Yee
Evelyn Ng Mei Li
Chin Ming Ling
Chan Khoon Moh
S K Loges a/p Kesavan
Fathiha Binti Kamarol Zaman
Kartina Binti Mohd Sobri
Liew Yung Fai
Lew Choon Meng
Yim Kit Kwan
Loo Lee Lin
Leong Pik Shan
Yap Saw Siang
Foong Yee Ling
Lim Khiam Ing
Fareez Bin Zahir
Chakaravarthi a/l Thillainathan
Goh Chee Hong
Jeyanthi a/p R Balasubramaniam
Cheah Wai Leong
Yogarajah a/l Kanaga Rajah
Amy Chan Fong Lyn
Mark Wong Kah Kit
Tan Kim Kwong
Choong Kwai Fatt
Foong Chee Keen
Nor’Shahkierra Binti Abd Manan
Selvarajoo a/l Rengasamy
Marlyn Binti Abdul Malik Perone
Gan Ching Chui
Yamuna Nair a/p Subramaniam @ Balan
Suhanthi a/p Sivanesan
Ahmad Firdaus Bin Abdul Hamid
Ng Hooi Hong
Lim Kah Loon
Joachim Leong Ming Yoong
Chua Soon Jaa
Liew Sheau Kie
Lukneswari a/p Vengadesh
Elena Shim Mei Yun

KL Bar IT Law Forum - 12 November 2010

2010-11-22T14:34:00.005+08:00

About four days before the Forum, KLBC received a letter from the Minister of Information Communications and Culture that he could not attend to officiate at the IT Law Forum after having accepted the invitation earlier on. Thankfully, the Deputy Minister, Dato’ Maglin Dennis D’Cruz graciously agreed to attend on behalf of the Minister and opened the Forum.

The Deputy Minister gave a resounding speech, confirming that the Government of Malaysia is committed to transparency and Freedom of Speech on the Internet; but called for users to the responsible when using the same.

About 100 people attended the Opening ceremony, held at the KDU Law School at their new 2^nd campus at Section 13, Petaling Jaya. With KDU recently upgraded to University College status, having the Forum there seemed apt, for the discussion that went on at the Forum was truly educational and informative.

Three speakers spoke on the Censorship on Malaysian Internet and all three of them spoke against censorship; though Mr Jagdish Singh of the Internet Society did promote internet censorship to protect certain segment of society such as young Children. Mr Steven Gan of Malaysiakini gave a resounding speech from a Journalist’s point of view and impressed upon the delegates that Internet Censorship should not exist in Malaysia. Mr HR Dipendra, a lawyer but speaking in his capacity as part of the international Media Defence Group articulated his point for a non-censored internet to allow the Media on the Net to flourish.

The 2^nd Session saw two heavyweights in Data Protection Law in the form of Professor Abu Bakar Munir of University Malaya and Professor Sonny Zulhuda of International Islamic University of Malaysia. They spoke on the recently passed Personal Data Protection Act 2010, currently waiting to be in operation. The two Professors shared many intricate and delicate views on the matter. Professor Abu Bakar Munir, in particular, had inside knowledge of the Act, as he was in fact part of the team who drafted the Act.Many delegates posed interesting and sometimes difficult questions to the two Professors. The replies from the Academicians were extremely helpful and clarified many anomalies of the Act.

After the lunch break; the Forum saw three giants on Social Media speaking. Representing Nuffnang was Mr Nicholas Chay whilst DiGi sent their Head of Online, Mr Azizi Jennis. The trio was completed by the famous Blogger Mr Niki Cheong.They spoke candidly of the growth of Social Media and how far Social Media may grow in Malaysia. All three of them appeared to take the view that Social Media will be a major player in the dissemination of information in future. There were also survey results which indicated that people seems to trust what is written on famous blogs more than what the advertisement says. This may suggest that the trend of advertisement in the future may vary on the Internet.

The Forum came to a close at 4.00 p.m. It was highly successful with the IT Committee of the KL Bar already receiving many requests for more of such Forums to be organised.

Candidate Watch Campaign: The Answers!

2010-11-16T14:33:00.002+08:00

As you all may be aware, the Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee (“KLYLC”) had embarked on a new initiative for to the Bar Council Election 2011/2012, known as the ‘Candidate Watch Campaign’.

The list of candidates was released by the Bar Council secretariat on 1 November 2010 and we have on the same day circulated a set of 7 questions to each of the candidates via email. The list of questionswas also sent to the candidates via post and fax subsequently and each candidate was asked to respond by Friday, 12 November 2010.

To date, we have received replies from 18 candidates out of the 26 candidates vying for seats on the Council for the 2011/2012 term.

Below are the replies from the candidates who have responded to the questions, reproduced in their original form (i.e. no editing was carried out).

The KLYLC wishes to thank the candidates who have reverted to us for their time and for supporting the Candidate Watch Campaign. We hope that that this inaugural initiative would result in members of the Bar, especially the young lawyers, to be more receptive towards and actively participate in the Election. With this, we believe that you would be able to make a more informed decision and have your voices heard in the Bar Council.

Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee

Candidate Watch Campaign

Bar Council Election 2011/2012

Candidates’ Replies

*Kindly do not reproduce the candidate’s replies in any other website, publication or application without the express consent of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee.

1. Hj. Abdul Murad B. Che Chik

*The Candidate Watch Campaign team has not received a reply from this candidate.

2. Abdul Rahim bin Sinwan

*The Candidate Watch Campaign team has not received a reply from this candidate.

3. Aisha Mubarak

4. Amir Bahari

5. Anand Ponnudurai

6. Andrew Khoo Chin Hock

7. Christopher Leong

*The Candidate Watch Campaign team received a reply from this candidate on 16 November 2010.

8. George Varughese

9. Hendon Mohamed

*The Candidate Watch Campaign team has not received a reply from this candidate.

10. Honey Tan Lay Ean

11. Ismail Arifin

12. Jaharberdeen @ Jabar

13. Jerald Gomez

14. Datuk Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari

*The Candidate Watch Campaign team has not received a reply from this candidate.

15. Low Beng Choo

16. P Suppiah

17. Rao Suryana

18. Raphael Tay Choon Tien

*The Candidate Watch Campaign team has not received a reply from this candidate.

19. Richard Wee Thiam Seng

20. Dato’ Hjh Shamsuriah bt Sulaiman

*The Candidate Watch Campaign team has not received a reply from this candidate.

21. Steven Thiru

22. Haji Sulaiman Abdullah

*The Candidate Watch Campaign team has not received a reply from this candidate.

23. Syamsuriatina bt Ishak (Tina)

24. Tengku Mohamed Fauzi Hamid

25. Tony Woon Yeow Thong

26. Dato’ Yasmeen Shariff

*The Candidate Watch Campaign team has not received a reply from this candidate.

Invitation to Watch Harry Potter 7

2010-11-04T19:03:00.002+08:00

Dear members of the Bar,

The KL Bar Social, Arts and Culture Committee is organising a private screening of Harry Potter 7. This invitation is open to all members as well as their families and friends.

Details of the screening are as follows:

Date : 18 November 2010 (Thursday)

Time : 9.00pm

Venue : GSC Pavillion

Rate : RM13 for normal seats ([177] seats are up grabs)

RM15 for twin seats ([24] seats are up for grabs)

As places are limited, members are advised to purchase their tickets from the KL Bar Secretariat (Rajan @ 2693 3585) before 15 November 2010.

We look forward to your attendance in watching one of the most anticipated 1^st half of the finale!

Khaizan Sharizad Ab. Razak

Chair

KL Bar Social, Arts and Culture Committee

4 November 2010

Candidate Watch campaign: Know Your Candidates!

2010-11-01T11:46:00.001+08:00

You have a say in determining who would be the decision-makers of the body governing our profession!

Yes, it is once again the time for the Bar Council Elections and you, yes YOU will be electing the candidates vying for seats on the Council for the 2011/2012 term.

This time around, there is a new reason for excitement. The Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee (“KLYLC”) embarked on a new initiative called the ‘Candidate Watch’.

Essentially, the ‘Candidate Watch’ campaign hopes to provide members of the Bar with the opportunity to know and understand the candidates that have offered themselves in the Elections, up-close and better.

We understand that the Malaysian Bar, being a body that boasts a membership of approximately 13,000 members in strength, typically only received about 3,000 returned ballot papers. This translates to a mere 23% of the members of the Bar who actually exercise their right to vote – miserable figures indeed!

One of the major reasons given for the poor turnout is that members face difficulties in trying to decide who to elect as they may not know a candidate well enough or even feel affected by the outcome of the Elections, whatever it may be.

Hence, the ‘Candidate Watch’ will attempt to help members of the Bar, particularly young lawyers, to understand the candidates better, as well as to increase their awareness in respect of the Bar Council elections.

The methodology of this campaign is simple. Once the list of candidates running in the upcoming Elections is released by the Bar Council Secretariat, each candidate will be posed a set of questions. The list of questions will be sent to the candidates via post, fax and email and each candidate will be given a week to respond. Upon collating the replies from each candidate who responded to the questions, it would then be reproduced in their original form (i.e. no editing would be carried out) on the Bar website.

The KLYLC hopes that this inaugural initiative would serve as a platform for all members of the Bar, especially the young lawyers, to be more receptive towards and actively participate in the Bar Council Elections. With this, we believe that all members of the Bar would be able to make a more informed decision and have their voices heard in the Bar Council.

So, before you send in your ballot papers to the Bar Council, do wait for your candidates’ responses to the 7 questions!

Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee

YLC Sports Carnival on 31.10.2010

2010-10-28T00:15:00.000+08:00

The festive seasons are over. All invitations to open house will have to take a back seat until next year. Thus there is no more excuse not to start burning those extra weights gained. It's time to burn that flab! In support of leading a healthy lifestyle the KL Bar Young Lawyers Committee ("KLYLC") will be organising a sports carnival to churn and grind those lethargic muscles and at the same time encourage young lawyers to foster closer ties amongst others under the goodwill of sports. Details pertaining to the carnival are as follows:-

Date: 31 October 2010 (Sunday)

Time:10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Venue: The Challenger Sports Complex PJ, Jalan Semangat, Section 14 PJ (Opposite Dutch Lady/Beside the new BMW showroom on Jalan Semangat).

Sports: Badminton and Futsal (to be played simultaneously).

Rules and regulations are as follows:

KLYLC FUTSAL CARNIVAL FORMAT

GENERAL RULES

1. Futsal is ONLY open to practising lawyer and pupils-in-chambers.

2. Limited to only 16 teams.

3. It will be on a “first come first serve basis"

4. Every team must have a MAXIMUM of 8 players and MINIMUM 5 players

5. Entry fee: RM 80 PER TEAM

6. Every team MUST have a jersey to avoid confusion.

7. Length of each game:-

7 MINUTES FIRST HALF

1 MINUTE-BREAK

7 MINUTES SECOND HALF

8. Initial Format: Double knockout (However may change depending on the circumstances of event.) We will follow the rules of Fifa on futsal i.e no offside trap, no body contact etc

KLYLC BADMINTON CARNIVAL FORMAT

1. Events to be held:-

a. Men's Singles

b. Men's Doubles

c. Women's Singles

d. Women's Doubles

e. Mixed Doubles

2. Qualification: All players MUST be either practising lawyers or pupils-in-chambers.

3. Minimum players : Every event must have at least 4 players/pairings for it to proceed.

4. For players who represent the Malaysian Bar, they will be seeded.

5. Format - Double Knockout. First Round Losers go to Plate event. (However may change depending on the circumstances of event.) Best of 3 sets. 21 points. International IBF rules apply.

6. Decision of Umpire is final. No Appeal will be entertained (remember it is a carnival and not a World Championship)

7. Entry fee : RM10 PER PLAYER PER EVENT.

Kindly ensure that the entry fee is paid by 27.10.2010. For further enquiries kindly contact Melissa at the KL Bar Secretariat at 03- 26920745 or melissa@klbar.org.my. Click here for the Entry Form.

Lai Chee Hoe

Chairperson

KL Bar Young Lawyers Committee

Inti International College Visit on 2.10.10

2010-10-26T14:24:00.002+08:00

It has always been the objective of the Kuala Lumpur Young Lawyers Committee ("KLYLC") to get involved in activities which are constructive; therefore, KLYLC visited Inti International University at Nilai ("Inti") on 2.10.10. The primary objective of the said visit was to manage the expectations of the law students The volunteer lawyers attending the workshop were tasked with giving advice, insights and likewise sharing their experience with the students.

7 volunteer lawyers from KLYLC, together with Lai Chee Hoe, the Chairperson of KLYLC stepped into Inti at around 10am. As scheduled, the event started off with a welcoming speech by the representative from Inti and a brief introduction of the KLYLC volunteer lawyers Thereafter students were divided into 4 groups, each comprising 6-7 students. 2 volunteer lawyers were assigned to each group to share their experience with the students.

Along the 1.5 hours discussion, students were actively participating and asking questions. It was a rather rewarding experience to the students. Students nowadays are not only academically inclined, but they are also interested to know more about the world outside, especially the world of the legal industry. Students were eager to know what it is like working as a lawyer, working hours, remuneration, experience, etc. More importantly, the volunteer lawyers get to see the students' passion, enthusiasm and sense of justice.

Towards the end of the session, each group appointed a representative to provide feedback. The students showed their gratitude and expressed their will of having us back again in near future. The students were glad that KLYLC had provided them with an insight of legal practice. On the other hand, KLYLC were grateful for their attendance and active participation. KLYLC also expressed its wish to seethe students contributing back to the Bar in the future.

The visit officially ended at around 12.30pm.

Prepared by: Chang Lih Yik

Pictures courtesy of Joshua Jasons

Candidate Watch Campaign: Do not throw that ballot paper away!

2010-10-25T09:46:00.004+08:00

The Bar Council Elections takes place every year during the month of November. The purpose of the Elections is to elect members who will sit in Council and tasked under the Legal Profession Act to manage the affairs of the Malaysian Bar and to carry out various functions as specified under the Act. Candidates for the Elections are nominated by at least 3 members – you should have received your nomination papers by now! By early November, Bar Council will announce the candidates and ballot papers are sent to members for them to vote.

The question is how many members even bother to vote? Out of 13,000 members, Bar Council only received the returned ballot papers in the region of 3,000. Most members, when asked about the Elections, do not know how to participate as they have no clue who to elect, or who is best to represent their interests in Bar Council. More often than not, the ballot papers end up in the dustbin.

With this in mind, the Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee will embark on a first-of-its-kind initiative to create awareness amongst the members of the Bar on the coming Bar Council Elections. We call it, ‘Candidate Watch’.

How does it work? Simple. Once the Bar Council announces the list of candidates in early November 2010, we will send to each candidate a set of questions relating to the issues affecting the Bar through email, post and/or fax. Candidates will then be given a week to answer the questions. The answers will then be published on the Bar website to assist you in your assessment and casting of your vote.

It is hoped that with this initiative, more members will vote in the Elections, instead of throwing their ballot papers away.

Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee

Right to Legal Counsel : S28A Criminal Procedure Code

2010-10-20T14:53:00.001+08:00

Bar Council Elections: Candidate Watch Campaign

2010-10-19T09:58:00.000+08:00

Hear ye! Hear ye!

Come November, it will once again be time for YOU to choose 12 members to sit in the Bar Council.

YOUR Bar Council members.

But:

Do you know the candidates?

What about their goals and aspirations?

Their views on issues affecting the Bar?

CANDIDATE WATCH.

A first-of-it's-kind initiative, brought to you by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyer's Committee, which will revolutionise how you vote for your Bar Council members.

Watch this space for more details.

Press Statement

2010-10-18T16:46:00.003+08:00

Climate Change and Addressing Global Warming

The Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee (KLBC) has felt it timely to join the chorus of the environmentally-conscious and those who care, in expressing serious concern over greenhouse gas concentrations (derived from excessive carbon emission) through industries, transportation, deforestation and settlements, which by slow degrees are surely altering the chemistry of the Earth’s atmosphere, if left unattended by the world’s nations.

The net effect of this problem is enough to cause climate change and its severe environmental fallout.

Given that this is an area of international concern, already felt and amplified through extreme weather conditions such as rising sea levels, inundation, storm surge, erosion and other coastal hazards, it is not surprising that The United Nations has recently warned that tens of millions of people living in the world’s biggest cities are highly exposed to “mega disaster.”

In view of the magnitude of the problem that concerns humanity, KLBC has taken the initiative as part of its social responsibility on the local front, through its Environmental and Humanities Committee (EHC) to raise consciousness of every segment of society on the dire implications of the climate change issue.

KLBC calls on its legal fraternity in particular and public in general to rally behind the Kyoto Protocol (a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) aimed at fighting global warming so as to prevent dangerous interference with the climate system. For our survival, the next International Agreement on Climate Change must be strong, actionable and effective in preventing dangerous climate change. Our Prime Minister has already made a commitment in Copenhagen to reduce carbon emission. We call on him to introduce effective laws to achieve this.

Dated this 18^th day of October 2010

Anand Ponnudurai

Chairman

Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee

IT Law Forum on 12.11.2010

2010-10-15T11:25:00.005+08:00

The Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee through its Information Technology Committee in partnership with KDU University College is organising the inaugural Information Technology Law Forum on 12.11.2010 at KDU University College, Section 13 Campus, Petaling Jaya. Registration Fee is RM50 per participant.

We are inviting legal firms as partners for specific session in the Forum. The sponsorship fee as a partner shall be RM5000 for each session. As a partner of a selected session and in return for the sponsorship fee, your firm will be associated with that session and may choose to place buntings and/or distribute brochures at the said session.

Should you wish to sponsor a session and/or send participants, kindly complete and return the form to the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee by 25 October 2010.

Do contact our Ms Melissa Dass at the KL Bar secretariat at 03-26920745 (Direct Line)/03-26933585 (General Line) or melissa@klbar.org.my for any further information or clarification.

Posting Comments on this Blog

2010-10-13T01:01:00.001+08:00

Dear Visitors,

Thank you for visiting us.

In recent weeks the Blog have received much comments over certain postings. We are thankful and appreciate your effort in leaving the comments.

However as a gentle comment, we wish to bring your attention to the rules of this Blog. If you wish to leave a comment, we wish to have your full name and if you are a lawyer, do inform us which Firm you are attached to. Anonymous comments unfortunately, wont be entertained.

Thanks, and do continue leaving your comments. We do take note of your views.

Thank you.

Regards,

Richard Wee

IT Committee

KL Bar

YLC VISIT TO PARLIAMENT ON 11/10/2010

2010-10-12T20:01:00.002+08:00

The Kuala Lumpur Young Lawyers Committee (“KLYLC”) organised a visit to Parliament on 11^th October 2010, which saw 8 of its members attending the third session of the 12^th Parliament i.e. Lai Chee Hoe, Syahredzan Johan, Johnson Lim, Chan Kit Keong, Kenneth Wong, Joanne Leong, Johana Rosli and Joachim Leong.

Despite being informed that the session commences only at 10 am, we enthusiastically gathered as early as 8 am on a Monday morning for fears that there will be inadequate parking. After feasting on food and drinks at the Parliament’s cafeteria located at the 1^st Floor, we then made our way to the public gallery in the House.

Member of Parliment (“MP”) for Rembau, YB Khairy Jamuluddin was one of the earliest to arrive, and very kindly took the time to greet each and every one of us personally, where he subsequently ran through the agenda for the day with us.

Parliament convened exactly at 10.05 am with a short recital of the doa selamat, followed by the start of Questions for Oral Answers by Tangga Batu MP, YB Datuk Ir Haji Idris, who also acknowledged the presence of the KLYLC members, before a packed House who welcomed us with a roar of applause.

We had the opportunity to witness an emergency motion raised by DAP advisor YB Lim Kit Siang, under Standing Orders 18(12) to allow a debate in Parliament over the alleged racial slurs made by two school principals. However, Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin refused to allow such debate claiming that action had already been taken against them.

The House also stood up in one-minute silence as a sign of respect for Batu Sapi MP YB Edmund Chong, who tragically passed away on 9/10/2010 in a motorcycle accident. Independent MP from Pasir Mas, YB Ibrahim Ali did not stand up at this point, but continued talking on his mobile phone, which drew various criticisms not only from the MPs but also from the KLYLC members! There was a brief moment of chaos in the House when Puchong MP YB Gobind Singh criticised YB Ibrahim Ali for his ignorance, who then shouted back at the former.

At approximately 11.30 am, the KLYLC paid a courtesy call on MPs of DAP. The meeting, which was held at the Opposition’s Office located at the 13^th floor was attended by YB Kulasegaran, YB Teo Nie Ching, YB Tony Pua, YB Ngeh Koo Ham, YB Anthony Loke, YB Liew Chin Tong, YB Wong Ho Leng and YB Chong Chieng Jen. We were given a surprise visit by YB Lim Kit Siang during the meeting. It was indeed a rare and first-time experience for most of us, to finally shake the hands of our own elected MP. In particular was YL Johana Rosli who introduced herself to YB Liew Chin Tong, MP for Bukit Bendera.

YB Kulasegaran then provided us with insights into the general workings and attendance of MPs in Parliament. Other issues discussed during the meeting were issues on the KPI system of the Malaysian courts, live telecast of Parliamentary sittings, views on shadow cabinet in Malaysia, the general state of young voters today, so on and so forth.

The visit to Parliament ended at approximately 1pm. Till then, we hope to see more young lawyers joining us for the next KLYLC Parliament meeting in 2011!

Web report by: Johnson Lim

LexisNexis-KL Bar Treasure Hunt 2010 on 24.10.2010

2010-10-07T13:04:00.003+08:00

Calling all members of the Bar and pupils-in-chambers!

Come join the LexisNexis-KL Bar Treasure Hunt 2010. Great prizes to be won!

Date
Sunday, 24 October 2010

Route
Klang Valley

Categories
Open - members of the public
Closed - members of the Malaysian Bar and staff of LexisNexis

Entry Fee
Open - RM400.00 per car
Closed - RM350.00 per car
* up to 4 persons in a car

Hurry and sign up now!
Click here for the Flyer and Entry Form that contain more information about the Hunt.

The KL Bar’s share of the proceeds this year will go directly either to charitable organisations
or to fund a social or community development project undertaken by the KLBC.

Regards,

Khaizan Sharizad
Chairperson
KL Bar Social, Arts & Culture Committee

iPhone4 Plans for KL Bar Members

2010-10-06T13:20:00.002+08:00

Click here for the iPhone4 Plan and here for the Steps to Sign Up

For further enquiries kindly email klbarenquiries@digi.com.my

KL Bar Annual Dinner & Dance 2010

2010-09-29T11:57:00.003+08:00

Tickets at RM150 each or book a table (10 pax) for RM1,500

For reservation or more info, please contact Rajan

Tel: 03-26940068 (D/L) or 03-26933585 (G/L) or E-mail: rajan@klbar.org.my

Click here for the Booking Form

YLC Cheque Presentations

2010-09-14T15:33:00.020+08:00

After having a promising Charity Night 2010 on 02.07.2010 held at Gosh, the time has finally come for the Kuala Lumpur Young Lawyers Committee (KLYLC) to honour its promises by presenting the donations to the respective homes.

As advertised, this year the KLYLC has adopted 2 homes for donation and they are Marginal Youth Centre (Rumah Victory) and Selangor Handicapped & Mentally Retarded Children Centre. Both the Centres were presented with a cheque for RM20, 000.00 each.

Rumah Victory shelters 31 children of whom largely are either homeless or came from a single parent family whilst the Selangor Handicapped & Mentally Retarded Children Centre takes care of mentally arrested persons regardless of race and age.

On 28.08.2010, the committee members of KLYLC together with Pushpa Ratnam, the Chairperson of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Court Liaison Committee visited Rumah Victory. We were greeted by one Mr Loh and after handing the cheque over to him, he brought us for a quick tour of the Home. The children were extremely happy when they have visitors in their midst and some almost immediately took out their board games and invited us to join them. A few of us gladly obliged and spent around an hour chatting and playing with the kids. Although most of the kids in Rumah Victory are victims of broken families, Rumah Victory isonly filled with joy and not a moment of sorrow. The ambience was robust and noisy until its time when we bid farewell. We could see the change of emotions of the children and in fact one of them held onto our hand tightly and asked “when will you all be coming back again?” of which only attracted a silent response from us.

We then fixed 04.09.2010 to visit Selangor Handicapped & Mentally Retarded Children Centre. This home takes care of children and adults who require special needs and largely comprises of persons with various disabilities such as down syndrome, autism, physical disabilities and even blindness. This home is relatively quieter and the patients needed more care than the former home. As such, several live in caretaker are employed to take care of their needs such as bathing, feeding and providing basic education.

Whilst in the home, Ms Susila relayed to us various incidents which happened to the patients one of which we were informed that after the demised of a patient in the home, the parents have the audacity to refuse to claim the body of their child on the pretext of being busy with a tight schedule. It ended up by the Home initiating a donation drive for the sole purpose of taking care of the funeral expenses.

We hope by the proceeds collected from the annual Charity Night, the KLYLC can continue to do its part in contributing to the less unfortunate group and generate goodwill among lawyers.

Prepared by Lai Chee Hoe

Photos courtesy of Johana Rosli and Melissa Dass

Kuala Lumpur Bar Social Arts And Culture Committee Charity Go-Kart Race 2010

2010-09-03T14:58:00.007+08:00

The Kuala Lumpur Bar Social Arts And Culture Committee organised the Kuala Lumpur Bar Charity Go Kart Race 2010 on 7th Aug 2010 at Sepang Go Kart Circuit. The Weather forecast for that day was sunny, but that wasn't the case. Everyone was worried about the slippery condition of the track, but participants were eager to jump into the karts and do what Alonso or Hamilton would do. About 40 people attended the race and we had participants both from Bar members and Non-Bar members. There were 10 teams that took part in this race.

The format of the race was divided into two sections. Each racer was given 15minutes each of Free Practice/Qualifying and 90 minutes of Endurance Race (racers were allowed to change drivers within the 90 minutes). The reason for the team based format is solely to encourage teamwork and making new friends.

Below are the FINAL RESULT:

1. KSC Karting (Shell)

2. Tropicana Racers

3. Nuts n Bolts

4. Inglorious Basterds

5. Blue Bulls

6. YLC

7. Go Go Consti

8. Day of the Speed

9. The S-ploited

10. Al-Jazeera

Best Team Overall

KSC Karting

Fastest Lap

Dennis Woo

Best Female Driver

Sareena Hassan

The race ended around 1pm with prize giving ceremony and photo taking sessions. A special thanks to KSC(Karting) Shell for sponsoring Hyper Tune Magazines for the participants. The Committee managed to collect a profit and the profit will be donated to the Orang Asli settlement in Kg. Bertang, Raub Pahang. The Committee would like to thank those who participated in the race and came to support us that day!

Report prepared by Khaizan Sharizad

Pictures courtesy of KSC Karting

Relevan Online - An invitation to contribute articles

2010-09-02T09:17:00.000+08:00

As members may be aware, the KL Bar's Newsletter, Relevan, went online in the last term. Articles were published on the KL Bar Blog under Relevan Online. The Publications Committee for this term would like to continue to publish articles online but may consider re-producing selected articles in a bumper issue of Relevan at the end of the year. In this connection, the Publications Committee would like invite members to contribute articles. We welcome any articles pertaining to any area of interest, in particular the development of the law, administration of justice and human rights. Please email any of your articles for our consideration to melissa@klbar.org.my.

Dipendra Harshad Rai
Chairperson
KL Bar Publications Committee

Relevan Online

2010-09-01T16:25:00.001+08:00

Admission to the Bar in Kuala Lumpur

1 August - 31 August 2010

We congratulate and welcome the following members to the Bar:

Norjama’Iyah Binti Rawi
Lim Qin Ru
Menaka Muthu a/p Muthuppalaniappan
Kenneth Chong Kheng Aik
Yeoh Tung Seng
Qurratul Ain Binti Zainul
Puveneswaran a/l Mohanasundram
Benny Tan Tiam Wah
Natasha Louis
Tina Ann Puspha a/p Francis
Adli Zil-Ikram Bin Mohamed Arifin
Muhamad Aminuddin Bin Ahmad Maulana
Loh Gin Foong
Tan Jee Tjun
Suhaida Binti Ahmad
Tan Seng Peng
Leng Wie Mun
Low Jen
Goh Yau Ju
Tan Aimee
Farah Intan Binti Burhanudin
Sheena S Lakhiani
Sujintana Mongkolthanit
Vinodsagaran a/l Gunasakaren
Pravin a/l Rajandran
Ng Foong Jin
Tan Eng Guat
Chai Lee Foon
Thong Sheau Tyng
Chien See Yim
Wan Nurul Amellin Binti Wan Mud
Yap Mia Lee @ Yap Seng Lee
Loh Lee Keen
Jayaram a/l Sankaran
Joel Lim Phan Hong
Desmond Choe Yong Li
Marina Wong Siew Khuan
Choo Jun Lin
Lim Pek Kee
Koay Su Ling
Khor Haw Lun
Aw Kam Mei
Nuraitul Masni Binti Jamaluddin
Ong Zeiyin
Shahirul Nazleen Binti Ab Llah
Noor Yusdiana Binti Mohd Yusof
Chan Oi Ling
Huang Juat Yik
Ewe Suat Hoon
Emma Samantha a/p Morgan
Lim Kee Wai
Wai Sook Yan
Saara Ann Isaacs
Nurhasmanita Binti Abdul Manap
Lim Tuck Choy
Amir Zharif Bin Abdullah
Krystal Ng Ming Yie
Nor Shazana Binti Sedek Shah
Noor Alwani Binti Othman
Nur Ashikeen Binti Khamis
Stephaine Tee Siow Ching @ Lim Siow Ching
Yap Jyy Huey
Lau Ming Hui
Tee Luh Miin
Lee Boon Koon
Sandra Ko Chze Siew

YLC Buka Puasa on 18.08.2010

2010-08-26T10:43:00.002+08:00

On 18^th August 2010 the KL BAR Young Lawyers Committee (YLC) organised a buka puasa event. The event was aimed at fostering the ties between lawyers in the Holy Month of Ramadhan. This event is an annual event held during the Holy Month of Ramadhan and this year the YLC decided to add a twist to the annual regime and change the venue from last year’s Restaurant Kampung Baru Ikan Bakar to Ali Baba’s Kebab Restaurant along Jalan Ampang and from the normal buffet to a Set menu. The sets were reasonably priced at RM 28 per person.

For the buka puasa event, Ali Baba’s Kebab provided the following selections which were Ali Baba's Special Roast Chicken, Lamb Stew or Koubideh (Lamb Minced Kebab). The selections also included soup, bread, dates, Iranian cheese, Iranian tea and Iranian sweets and to top it off Ali Baba’s Kebab Restaurant ended the meal with a serving of ice cream.

Invitations were sent out around a week before the event and participants were asked to pre-order meals to facilitate the speedy preparation of their food. True to form, more than 60 participants confirmed their attendance and orders by the 18^th of August with many more walk in attendees attended the event and made the event more memorable. All in all about 80 participants attended the event and truly made this event a memorable one.

The event was a success as several attendees were newcomers who had never attended a YLC event. The event lasted through the night with most attendees using the event to catch up with fellow Learned Friends. The committee expresses their hope that next year’s event will be even more memorable.

Prepared by: Imran Ismail

Photo’s courtesy of KSC Karting

Relevan Online

2010-08-03T11:16:00.003+08:00

Admission to the Bar in Kuala Lumpur

1 July - 31 July 2010

We congratulate and welcome the following members to the Bar:

Aimy Binti Nordin

Siti Rahimah Binti Che Lah
Nurul Izza Binti Abdul Razak Abd Malek
Mohd Zali Bin Shaari
Tasha Marian Periera
Adelin Goh Suk Yen
Siow Thian Ern
Affaf Binti Mohd Khair
Sobana Swarta Thevi a/p Paidi Taly
Parma a/l Chandravevah
Ruzaini Binti Md Nor
Zureen Elina Binti Hj Mohd Dom
Nor Rajiah Binti Mat Zin
Mohd Salehuddin Bin Mohd Salleh
Siti Noor Najiana Binti Mohidin
Lubna Binti Sheikh Ghazali
Siah Mei Hui
Nur Azreen Binti Khairall
Elfirra Binti Thazali
Sharon Lai Yie Ling
Dayang Nadirah Binti Mohd Sebli
Lim Qi Si
Nur Zaliqa Binti Zamzah
Shairahtul Adora Yusof
Khor Wei Min
Diana Tan Ching Jean
Yong Yi Lin
Janet Olivia Tang Muo Lung
Syarifulnizam Bin Shahruddin
Amirul Rahman Bin Abdul Rahim
Salwa Asmary Binti Abdul Rahim
R Kalaiyarasi a/p Rajasekaran
Khairul Syarazeq Bin Razali
Vijayaletchumi a/p Muniandy
Nor Suriani Binti Mohd Azhar
Kalaiarasi a/p Muniandy
Mohanana a/p Armutharajan
Cheong Shih Wen
Rodney Khor Say Aun
Jenani Velangaya
Noor Hamimah Binti Abdul Hadi
Dhaniah Binti Ahmad
Hasyutantee Binti Khalil
Hana Rabi Binti Mat Rabi
Tan zhi Chao
Archana Devi Thirumalai
Lian Chiew Yi
Aswini a/p Sandrakantham
Yong Ann Nee
Chai Wai Hong
Nurul Hafidzah Binti Hassan
Airol Irwan Bin Limin
Nur Azhan Binti Ahmad Pauzi
Ahmad Khusyri Bin Abdul Majid
Nithiya a/p Thiahhan
Bakialetchumy a/p Supramaniam
Wong Lian Chin
Chew Qi Wei
Tan Suet Yin
M Gandhi Mohan a/l Maniam
Ahmad Fariz Bin Abdul Hamid
Khairul Anuar Bin Hj Hassan
Hida Yazlin Binti Mazlan
Kaberbedy Bin Rasul
Banusri a/p Subramaniam
Abigail Lim Ern Tze
Hafizulfahmi Bin Yusof
Nurul Najwa Binti Hashim
Puteri Noorsyazana Binti Zainal
Coo Sim Nee
Norfazilah Binti Shaharudin
Sujatha Fam Siez Chez
Boo Min Lee
Muhammad Nizamuddin Bin Abdul Hamid
Lim Wei Ling
Danny Foo Sek Han
Teo Wee Shiuan
Judy Lim Chu Dee

Environmental and Humanities Committee (EHC) of Kuala Lumpur Bar Organised Turtle Hatchlings Release At Cherating

2010-07-20T13:59:00.006+08:00

On this day, 17^th July 2010, the Environmental and Humanities Committee (EHC) took a big step in environmental conservation. They organised a trip to the Turtle Sanctuary at Cherating to see first hand problems surrounding the possible extinction of a reptilian species still roaming the face of the Earth- the turtles. The presence of 36 participants was involved in this mission, comprising mainly of lawyers from the EHC.

The existence of the turtle can be traced back to the Jurassic Era. It could have survived the end-Permian extinction, the greatest mass extinction in fossil history. But why should we bother about the turtle? Turtles are one of the very few creatures that eat a type of vegetation called sea grass that grows on the ocean floor. In so doing, sea grasses are kept short to remain healthy. Beds of healthy sea grass are essential breeding grounds for many species of fish and other marine life. The absence or decline of healthy sea grass beds would mean a loss or decline of the marine species that directly depend on them which would trigger a chain reaction and negatively impact marine and human life. When one part of an ecosystem is destroyed, the other parts will self-destruct of course. The result could be devastating if we continue to hunt down turtles for their soup, eggs, and supposed aphrodisiac properties.

If we stretch the importance of the turtle a little, it is an important component in terms of a sustainable environment. Without a sustainable environment, we are nothing as humankind will be doomed.

This frightening prospect has led EHC to take the initiative to lead opinion in order to rethink about our treatment of turtles as much as we rethink about our approaches to energy saving and other forms of environmental conservation. It boils down to the question of our survival.

Hence the EHC-organised trip to the Turtle Sanctuary is to meet at least three objectives. The first is to correct the easy perception that the issue is one of extinction which will mean the end of tourist attractions. In this narrow context, extinction is always confused with disappearance. The very word ‘Sanctuary’ carries with it a sense of protection which enjoins us to differentiate the real from the apparent. That is to say as a matter of our survival we have to take steps to save the turtles. EHC has taken and held on to this position strongly despite all the talk about turtles being the focus of tourist attraction, and whose private life (laying eggs ) is something to be displayed publicly for the sake of short term economic gains.

The second is to improve upon the state of general knowledge as regards turtles so that as part of its awareness programme, EHC would be well placed to raise the level of consciousness on some of the larger issues on environmental protection. In this context the trip to the Sanctuary incorporated a briefing and documentary session at its Information Centre, whereby much engagement took place in the form of many questions and answers that would eventually chip away many of our points of ignorance prior to the session. Concepts such as tagging a turtle and implanting a GPS (Grid Positioning System) on them for purpose of scientific research and the astronomical costs involved were some of the consciousness raisers. It was also interesting to note at the session that world-wide we have seven (7) species of turtles and of these seven we have four (4) frequenting the shores of Malaysia namely: Desmochelys coriacea (hawkbill turtles), Chelonia mydas (green turtles), Lepidochelys olivacea, and Eretmochelys imbricate.

The third is to improvise a plan of action to save the turtles. How do we do that? EHC calls on everyone not to eat turtle eggs, not to destroy habitats meant for these reptilian creatures, stop the use of fishing methods and equipment that could inadvertently deprive the turtles their level of oxygen supply, stop the oil spill, stop treating the oceans as a rubbish dump, stop exacerbating light-sensitive activities that could discourage turtles to secure their spots for laying eggs. Acting on the conviction of their belief in this plan of action, all the participants released a total of fifty (50) turtle hatchlings on to the shores of Cherating for them to roam the South China Sea and beyond.

According to scientific opinion they only have one-in-a-thousand chance of survival. They could be gobbled up by much larger marine life-forms or swallowed unknowingly by sharks or whales and all the EHC-sponsored hatchings would be gone and come to nothing. If Charles Darwin was correct, their chances of survival were fractional in the hierarchical food chain. If so, does that mean such a ritualistic release of the hatchlings was futile and at most symbolic? I venture to say ‘no’ because all the participants in the programme prefer to think in aggregate, and they hope to have more of this in future.

As they believe too that you can and would help save the turtles as they are part of us.

Contributed by Roger Chan Weng Keng

Pictures courtesy of Seira Sacha

20th KL Bar v RSC Sports Carnival 08 and 10 July 2010

2010-07-19T16:08:00.003+08:00

Last year, the KL Bar and Royal Selangor Club (“RSC”) were joint Champions in this Annual Sports Carnival Series. This year, they were once again declared joint Champions with both sides winning 3 games each and drew at 1 game. The KL Bar won at badminton, cricket, netball whilst the Royal Selangor Club emerged victorious in soccer, hockey and billiards/pool. They drew at tennis. The End-of-Games Dinner and Prize-Giving was well attended. The Boat race was held during the dinner. Though a non-competitive event, it was closely fought and won by the Royal Selangor Club.

The scores were as follows:

Game	Winner	Score
Cricket	KL Bar	1 run
Netball	KL Bar	40-27
Badminton	KL Bar	3-2
Soccer	RSC	2-0
Billiard	RSC	4-3
Hockey	RSC	4-1
Tennis	Draw	3-3

A Dirty Affair at SPCA

2010-07-16T14:19:00.005+08:00

Looking at lawyers in their sombre black-and-white power suits walking up the steps of the Court defending justice for fellow human beings, one would never have thought that beneath the serious facade lies a big soft spot in their hearts for their little furry friends too!

The KL Bar Young Lawyers Committee (KLYLC) in wanting to provide more avenues for legal eagles to give back to society, formed an Ad Hoc Animal Welfare Committee earlier this year and a visit to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) on 5^th June 2010 soon materialised. The SPCA is an animal welfare organisation that aims to protect defenseless animals and to alleviate their suffering. The objective was to raise awareness amongst lawyers in respect of animal welfare.

Lawyers who participated in this visit were soon smelling less than pleasant as the day began with assisting SPCA’s staffs with its routine activities. It was a touching sight as plenty of excitement was soon generated amongst the animals as the lawyers helped to clean the animal enclosures by changing newspapers and removing wastes, replacing bowls with fresh food and water, feeding, bathing and socialising with the animals. Some had never touched a dog before and some were squeamish about bathing the animals and cleaning their wastes but for the sake of charity and the genuine wish to help, most managed to overcome their hesitation and in the end enjoyed the visit. The Committee hopes this will encourage and inspire more people to be involved in the welfare of animals.

Many of those who could not make it for the visit donated items instead to the SPCA through calls for donations by the KL Bar. Items included necessities such as food and disinfectants, as well as clothes, household items, books, toys, etc. for the SPCA Jumble Sale and Charity Shoppe.

The staffs at SPCA encourage pet adoption from the Centre as they sometimes have to make a tough decision when the number of stray dogs and cats gets too big and the Centre has no choice but to put many of them down to make room for the growing number of strays. SPCA would like to dispel the myth that strays are less prestigious than animals bought from pet shops, as they are equally intelligent, loyal and loving creatures.

It was truly a fun and fulfilling day for many that came for the visit and the animals clearly warmed up quickly to the lawyers as they showed playfulness which lead to many humourous incidents. Nicole Ong, co-chair of the Ad Hoc Animal Welfare Committee reminded all that one of the most important thing in such future visits is to dress appropriately, preferably comfy but fitting outfits so as not to cause a distraction to both humans and animals.

The visit was reported in the Chinese Presses of Sin Chew Jit Poh and Guangming Daily, as well as The Star and News Straits Times. The KLYLC hopes to continue its efforts to raise awareness on animal welfare and to encourage more lawyers to be part of its animal welfare program.

Contributed by Melissa Sasidaran.

Photos courtesy of Melissa Sasidaran and Seira Sacha Abu Bakar.