28 Feb 2002

Chief Justice Of Malaysia To Deliver The 15th Singapore Law Review Lecture

The Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohamed Dzaiddin bin Haji Abdullah, will deliver the 15th Singapore Law Review Lecture on Friday, 1 March at 7.00pm at the City Hall Chambers, City Hall Building (Level 3). He will speak on "Trial and Appellate Courts - A Malaysian Perspective". His Lordship will share his personal experiences as a trial and appellate judge and as a practicing lawyer prior to his elevation to the Bench in October 1982.

The Chief Justice is here at the invitation of the Singapore Law Review, a legal journal managed by the students of the Faculty of Law in NUS. The Singapore Law Review Lecture (SLR) is part of a series aimed at developing the tradition of public lecturing by luminaries in the legal field. Former speakers in the series include eminent members of the judiciary, lawyers, and academics both local and from abroad.

Launched in 1984, the SLR Lecture Series was primarily organised for law students. It has since attracted interest from all sectors of the legal profession. Many senior members of the Malaysian Bench and Bar will be amongst the distinguished guests attending the Lecture this year.

Ms Sonita Jeyapathy, editor of the Singapore Law Review explained, "The SLR aspires to provide a forum of discussion for the students, academics and members of the legal fraternity in the Asia Pacific region. We hope that this Lecture will be a significant milestone in the SLR's attempt to extend its lecture series to the regional stage."

Annex 1.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Daryl Lim
Publicity Officer
Tel: 9621 2651/email: limhus@singnet.com.sg

Ms Khoo Bee Hoon
Administrative Officer
Corporate Communications/Media
National University of Singapore
Tel: 6874 1526 or email: uprkbh@nus.edu.sg

About the Speaker
Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohamed Dzaiddin bin Haji Abdullah, born in Arau, Perlis on 16 September 1937, shares the same birth date as Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew. He had his early education at Sultan Abdul Halim College (Alor Setar, Kedah). In 1956 he worked as a journalist with The Malay Mail (Kuala Lumpur) and later joined the Royal Malayan Police Force as an Inspector.

Tan Sri Dzaiddin read law at the Middle Temple and was called to the English Bar in June 1966. In January 1967 he was called to the Malayan Bar and commenced practice at Kota Bharu, Kelantan and later Kuala Lumpur. A former Chairman of the Kelantan Bar Committee and for several years a member of the Bar Council, in 1981, Tan Sri Dzaiddin became the Vice President of the Malaysian Bar until his elevation to High Court Judge in October 1982. In 1996 he became Chairman of the ASEAN Law Association of Malaysia and in 1997, was elected President of the ASEAN Law Association.

Tan Sri Dzaiddin started his judicial career as a part-time Judicial Commissioner in 1979. Upon elevation to High Court Judge in October 1982, he served in the Criminal Division of the Kuala Lumpur High Court. In 1984 he was transferred to the High Court of Penang. In 1993 he was promoted to the Supreme Court Bench, which later became known as the Federal Court. On 20 December 2000, he was appointed the Chief Justice of Malaysia and had the distinction of being the first legal practitioner to be elevated to the highest judicial office.

In June 2000, he was bestowed the Order of Panglima Setia Mahkota by the Yang DiPertuan Agong, which carries the title "Tan Sri".

An avid golfer, Tan Sri Dzaiddin is married to Tengku Puan Sri Noriah and they have two children.

About Singapore Law Review
The Singapore Law Review is a legal journal managed exclusively by the students of the Law Faculty. The Review was first published in 1969 but ceased publication in 1972. In 1983, the Review was revived and it is now published annually. The aim of the Review is to create an awareness of current legal issues among students, promote legal thinking, legal writing and discussion amongst the students of the Law Faculty and provide a forum of discussion for the students, academics and members of the legal fraternity. Apart from students, the Review receives frequent contributions from lecturers and tutors, adding their erudition to the debate. Overseas contributors have been instrumental in giving the Review an international perspective. The Review presently receives local subscriptions from students, faculty staff and some law firms. Foreign subscribers number more than 180 and include major universities in Europe, the USA and the Pan-Pacific region. Currently, the Review is financed by benevolent law firms and through subscriptions and sales.

The Advisory Board:
The advisory board was set up in 1985 to provide guidance and forge links between SLR, the legal profession, and the judiciary. Presently, it comprises The Honourable Judge of Appeal, Justice Chao Hick Tin, Dr Thio Su Mien, Dr Philip Pillai, Mr Arthur Loke, Mr Jeffrey Chan Wah Teck, Mr V K Rajah(SC), Mr Kenneth Tan(SC), Professor Tan Yock Lin, Professor Andrew Phang, Dr Kevin Tan, Associate Professor Michael Hor and Associate Professor Gary Bell. Dr Philip Pillai, Mr Jeffrey Chan and Dr Kevin Tan were former members of the Editorial Board of the Singapore Law Review.

About The SLR Lecture Series
In 1984, the Editorial Board launched the Singapore Law Review Lecture Series at the Law Faculty. This was primarily organised for students. However, invitations are also extended to members of the Bench and the Bar. The Review hopes to develop the tradition of public lecturing by luminaries in the legal field through this lecture series. Some of the distinguished speakers in this series include Professor S Jayakumar (1985), Mr. Tan Boon Teik, Attorney-General (1987), Mr Koh Eng Tian, Solicitor-General (1988), Professor Tommy Koh (1992), Mr Chan Sek Keong, Attorney-General (1996), Professor Gerald Dworkin (1997), and Judge of Appeal, Justice LP Thean (1998).