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First Issue of Relevan 2008-09

Members should be receiving the first issue of Relevan for the run of 2008/09 very shortly. In this issue, the Relevan team has put together a host of different articles which we hope you find of interest.




The Editorial focuses on the revelations from the Royal Commission report on the VK Lingam videotape controversy and what appears to be the glacial movement of the investigations thereafter. This is in contrast with the speedy investigations into recent sodomy allegations and with the imminent filing of criminal charges. The Editorial is clear that it is imperative that further action must be taken in relation to the findings made by the Royal Commission.

Our first article in this issue is by Sudharsanan Thillainathan, who takes us through a detailed analysis of the fundamental right of Legal Professional Privilege and highlights some recent developments in Australia and the United Kingdom relating to this right.

Richard Wee kicks off a series of criminal law articles by touching on section 28A of the Criminal Procedure Code which, on the face of it, gives the right for a person under arrest to contact his lawyer…or does it? This we find out in I Want to Call My Lawyer … But Can You?

Sanjay Mohanasundram has allowed us to reproduce his article on whether contractual disputes involving corruption or bribery can be referred to arbitration, while Yudistra Darma Dorai draws us to a closer understanding on whether khalwat should be made a crime to non-Muslims in Too Close For Comfort.

Shantanu Majumdar, an English barrister, has also allowed us to reproduce his article on Malaysia Marching for Justice and shares with us his observations when he visited Kuala Lumpur. Brendan Navin Siva then highlights a range of recent case law in his Legal Updates.

Finally, our interview segment focuses on the brain drain problem our legal profession faces. Attracting and Retaining Talent: Flight of the Legal Eagles? features a host of different individuals, from a senior partner of the largest firm in Malaysia, to a legal recruitment consultant, to a recently graduated Bar student, to find their views on whether there is a difficulty in attracting and retaining talent, and what can be done to overcome this problem.

We hope that you enjoy the lineup in this issue, and I would like to invite all members to contribute articles for our upcoming issues. Do email your articles to klbc@klbar.org.my for the Publications Committee to consider for publication.


Lee Shih
Chair
Publications Committee