Bridging Law and Faith: Empowering the Malay/Muslim Community

For the past six years, commercial counsel Zamiq Azmeer bin Borhanudin ’18 has been helping the underprivileged navigate the conversations on end-of-life planning, a cultural taboo still in many Asian societies.

“A lot of people don’t know what a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is or understand its relevance,” shared Zamiq, who volunteers actively with M³@Nee Soon, a community initiative by the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura, MENDAKI, and People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committee Council (MESRA), and PEGUAM, a society of Muslim professionals providing pro bono legal assistance. “The LPA allows individuals to voluntarily appoint someone to make decisions and act on their behalf if they lose their mental capacity. This would greatly help our elderly protect their assets and interests.”

Guiding the vulnerable through end-of-life planning

Zamiq’s pro bono journey began while studying at NUS Law, where he volunteered with the NUS Law Pro Bono Office (now known as the NUS Law Centre for Pro Bono & Clinical Legal Education or CPBCLE) and Community Mediation Unit, among others. His pro bono journey continued immediately after graduation when Adjunct Associate Professor Ruby Lee, then Deputy Director of CPBCLE, invited him to assist with an LPA talk at Jamiyah Nursing Home on 7 July 2018. Fresh out of NUS Law, Zamiq was eager to help the man on the street.

“When I was helping out with matters relating to the Malay/Muslim community during my internships and my pro bono stints whilst in university, I realised that there are many underprivileged folks who need help to navigate the law for various reasons, such as lack of money to engage a lawyer, a lack of education, amongst other factors,” shared Zamiq, who felt the need to make a difference. “And from my experience, the LPA was not as commonly discussed, unlike Muslim wills and matters relating to Muslim testamentary gifts.”

During the LPA talk, a participant raised a critical question – “Is the LPA permissible in Islam?”. That simple yet profound question made Zamiq realise that the issue was deeply rooted in religion and Muslim law. At that time, the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) had not issued any official guidance on the LPA and Zamiq sensed that the Malay/Muslim community might have been hesitant to adopt it, fearing they might unintentionally violate Islamic principles.

Opening doors and leading the way

Having a strong interest in this area, Zamiq felt the need to look into it and proposed seeking a Fatwa – a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognised authority – from MUIS. Working together with Adj Assoc Prof Lee and CPBCLE, Zamiq sought MUIS’ advice and views on the LPA from the Islamic perspective. They successfully obtained MUIS’ blessings on 12 March 2019. The Islamic authority decreed that the LPA is permissible under Islamic law and in line with the objectives of the Shariah. Additionally, it ruled that the LPA is consistent with Islamic principles encouraging Muslims to plan and prepare for the future.

“The opportunity to work on obtaining the Fatwa was very rewarding as I saw how it could make a real difference to the wider community. It is also beneficial knowledge because where there previously was no opinion regarding the LPA within the ambit of Islam, there is one now that individuals can learn about,” Zamiq shared gratefully.

Indeed, Zamiq’s initiative to seek the Fatwa was a significant and necessary milestone for Malay/Muslims guided by Islamic law. His desire to benefit the community was instrumental in opening doors for the adoption of the LPA. Zamiq was not alone in this endeavour. Motivated to help, he and like-minded lawyers rallied together to co-found an informal Muslim legal network, which evolved into Lawyers@M³ and subsequently into PEGUAM, providing free legal counsel to the vulnerable. The group, comprising individuals from various legal backgrounds such as lawyers and paralegals, has conducted numerous sessions over the past five years – even during the COVID pandemic in 2021 and 2022 – to assist the Malay/Muslim community with LPA applications. At a parliamentary session in April 2023, Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli praised the efforts of such professionals for their part in giving back to society.

Their efforts at helping individuals achieve peace of mind and protecting their assets have significantly reached the wider community. LPA sessions have attracted notable attendance, with around 200 to 300 participants seeking advice.

Zamiq was delighted to hear that this development has even reached Malaysian shores where lawyers are now discussing the LPA and its potential challenges from the Malaysian perspective.

He related, “A friend had shared on LinkedIn about a June 2024 conference held in Kuala Lumpur by the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia and Medico-Legal Society of Malaysia where the LPA was a huge discussion topic. The Singaporean experience of the LPA and the issuing of the Fatwa by MUIS were discussed.”

Becoming a lawyer isn’t just about the law

As Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon ’86 said at Mass Call in August – “Pro bono work is a tangible demonstration of our profession’s commitment to serving the public good, by ensuring that justice is accessible to those most in need.”

It is gratifying to see alumni like Zamiq, who, despite his Asia-Pacific duties with Energy Exemplar, make a concerted effort to give back to society and help those in need. Besides volunteering during pro bono legal sessions, Zamiq actively participates in networking events to share his experiences and mentor law students and young lawyers. He attributes his commitment to pro bono work and the guidance of his law professors for shaping his approach to using the law for the greater good.

“The foundations of my ongoing pro bono journey began during my studies at NUS Law and from working with passionate professors, which has blessed me with the abilities that I currently have so that I can multiply those blessings to a wider community. For this, I will always be grateful for my time at NUS Law,” expressed Zamiq, who hopes that others will step forward to lend their expertise and give back to society.

“Becoming a lawyer isn’t just about the law; it’s about empowering others, the community, and ensuring that knowledge gained is never wasted.”