Admitted to the Malaysian Bar Council as Advocate & Solicitor!

I was admitted to the Bar Council on the 27th January 2012 by Richard Wee (a great lawyer). Here's my long call speech!

___________________________________________________________________________

Admission to the Malaysian Bar (Long Call) Speech.

If it pleases you My Lord,my name is Richard Wee and I appear for the Petitioner, Mr. Low Teck Kuan and my learned friends representing the Attorney General, the Bar Council and the KL Bar Committee have already been introduced earlier.

My Lord, people pursue a career in law for many reasons. Some pursue it due to their passion for the law while others pursue it for its bright career prospects. The Petitioner however, chose an education in law for other unconventional reasons. Firstly, he chose it due to his developed interest in politics which eventually led to his interest in law and secondly, due to his desire to join a highly respectable profession.

During the petitioner’s pre-university days, after realizing that he had no interest in any science-related subjects he decided to narrow his college education to business, accounting and law. As the petitioner is greatly inspired by his father (who is a businessman himself) and many other successful entrepreneurial stories such as those of Donald Trump & Robert Kiyosaki, itbecame natural to him that he would choose a business degree. That was what the petitioner had in mind until one day, when the petitioner was searching for an Australian case-law for his Legal Studies subject, he stumbled upon an article written by the famous Raja Petra Kamarudin. The article’s discussion was focused on the 1998 constitutional crisis.

My Lord, for the first time in the petitioner’s life, he was exposed to important legal doctrines such as the rule of law, separation of power, and independence of the judiciary. This discovery did not just ignite a great sense of curiosity, it had also opened his eyes and challenged his perceptions on the state of the country. It also made the petitioner realized how naïve and ignorant he was to think that Malaysiaand its system had no shortcomings.

After months of reading colourful articles written by Raja Petra, the petitioner developed a strong interest in law and politics.In addition, it introduced the attractive idea of getting involved in politics someday. As a result, this had led to the petitioner deciding to enroll himself in Law School at the University of Readingin year 2007.Although law school was not an easy ride, the petitioner did his best and managed to obtain a Second Class Upper Degree with Honours in July 2009.

First involvement in politics

My Lord, upon graduation the petitioner continued to pursue his interests by working as Personal Assistant to YB Tony Pua, who currently is the Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara. After spending 3 fruitful months inpublic service, the petitioner continued his legal education by enrolling himself into the Certificate in Legal Practise course in Brickfields Asia College. After completion of the course, the petitioner continued to work and learn under YB Tony Puafor another 5 months before applying to chamber at Messrs Shook Lin & Bok in January 2011. Thereafter, my learned friend Mr. Steven Thiru became his master.

At this juncture the petitioner wishes to thank YB Tony Pua for providing him an opportunity to work in the public service. Through this employment, the petitioner has gained valuable experiences and insights that he would not have obtained elsewhere. More importantly, it has also taught him the importance of keeping the government in check as lack of accountability will allow rooms for corruption and abuse of power by irresponsible decision makers.

Legal practise

My Lord, the petitioner wishes to highlight thatbefore chambering under Mr. Steven Thiru, he initially wanted to learn corporate practise. The petitioner remembers clearly that during the interview with Mr. Too, the Managing Partner, he requested to be placed under a Corporatelawyer. However, to the wisdom of Mr. Too he was placedin the chambers of Mr. Steven Thiru(who specializes in litigation) instead. It came as a complete surprise to the petitioner but unknown to him at that time, he could not have found a better master.

Mr. Steven Thiru is an excellent master. Despite the petitioner having no experience in practise his master placed an extremely high expectation on him. He pushes the petitioner to his limit, even if it means the petitioner had to work four days continuously without sleep. And when the petitioner makes mistakes, his master was not shy to point out exactly what was wrong or lacking in the petitioner. The criticisms and expectations had certainly grown the petitioner from a boy to a man.

What impresses the petitioner most about his master was his working ethics. His master takes an extremely professional approach to his cases and does to the best of his ability for his clients, even if it means him having to work during weekends. Under his tutelage the petitioner had certainly learnt that beyond talents, the true ingredient of success lies in effort and hardwork. In his master’s own words, he said to the petitioner that “you may not be the most talented man, but with hard work you can go far in this life”. And for thatadvise, the petitioner thanks his master.

During chambering, the petitioner also had an opportunity to work with another talented litigator, Mr. Faisal Moideen. He was the petitioner’s immediate supervisor after his master. The petitioner wishes to thank him for giving great advises and teaching the important values of the legal profession. Of the many advises, the one that the petitioner was most fond of is “regardless of how heated the battle in the Court is, never take your case too personally against your opponent, as clients come and go, but the brotherhood (i.e. fellow lawyers in the Bar Council) remains”.

Apart from working on the cases his master assigned him to, the petitioner also had a priceless opportunity to work and contribute in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the death of Teoh Beng Hock. Although the result the petitioner envisaged for did not materialise, this once in a lifetime experience had nevertheless affirmed the petitioner’s ambition to someday participate actively in politics and hopefully, put those unscrupulous individuals who would do anything for their political gains (including risking the life of an innocent) into accountability.

Hence, for this memorable experience the petitioner wishes to first thank Richard Wee and Cheow Wee for recruiting him. If Richard Wee had not called his master, the petitioner would have missed a great opportunity to work on an extremely meaningful case. For that again the petitioner thanks his master for graciously allowing the petitioner time away from office to participate in this case. Working collectively in the Royal Commissionwith many experienced and talented lawyers had truly added flavour and colours into the petitioner’s nine months of pupilage.

Expression of thanks

My Lord, the petitioner also wishes to take this rare opportunity to express his deep gratitude to his family; his parents Low Tee San and Wu Sheet Cheng, his sister Low Wah Chin who is also a practicing lawyer herself, and his brothers Low TeckEng, Low Kah Haw and Low YauJuhfor all the love and care they gave him. Without their support the petitioner would definitely have not made it this far.

In addition, the Petitioner would also like to extend his sincere gratitude to his girlfriend, Jamie Lai for standing by him through thick and thin until today; his best friends(whom he had known for more than 10 years since high school) for their loyal friendship and support; his good University and College friends for all the fun times he had with them during his higher education years; all his friends whom he had befriended in Shook Lin & Bok and the Royal Commission of Inquiry for their patience, willingness to share their knowledge, and most importantly the amazingly wonderful nine months; andfinally, not forgetting his “Dock Freak” friends, who had gave him a memorable whacky experience during his legal aid months. The petitioner feels truly blessed with all of their presence.

My Lord, I believe that all cause papers are complete and in order and I know not of any objection from my learned friends and I sincerely hope that my learned friends representing the relevant parties will support this application. Therefore, My Lord, I respectfully pray that this Honourable Court admits and registers Low TeckKuan as an Advocate & Solicitor of this Honourable Court.

Much obliged, My Lord.