Description

Malaysia, given its diverse nature arising from a mixture of race, religion and politics, constantly confronts a myriad of problems in its quest to achieve social cohesion, promote economic advancement and maintain the rule of law. A number of state institutions have extremely important roles to play to bolster the growth of a liberal democracy. Public confidence in the integrity and independence of these institutions is vital for constitutionalism to prevail. With the dawn of the 21st century, the shifting political dynamics in Malaysia have placed Malaysian society at a crossroads. Which path will it traverse?

About The Speaker

Professor Hoong Phun (“HP”) Lee holds the Sir John Latham Chair of Law at Monash University. His principal fields of interest are Australian constitutional law, constitutional law of Malaysia and Singapore, administrative law, national security law and the Australian Judiciary. Professor Lee is the author of Constitutional Conflicts in Contemporary Malaysia (Oxford University Press, 1995) and co-author of The Australian Judiciary (2nd ed, Cambridge University Press, forthcoming). His many books include Judiciaries in Comparative Perspective (Cambridge University Press, 2011) and, as co-editor with Professor Andrew Harding, Constitutional Landmarks in Malaysia – The First 50 Years 1957-2007 (LexisNexis, 2007).