Read newspapers, CJ tells new lawyers
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Justice for Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Seri Panglima David Wong Dak Wah said that being a lawyer is not only about concentrating on making a living but should be a little bit more aware on what is happening in the world.
“Read newspapers, you're supposed to be above the society and aware about social issues, people don't know the rights, you know the rights,” Wong said during admission ceremony of 12 new lawyers as advocates and solicitors at the High Court here yesterday.
He also told the new lawyers that among others, they should know current issues such as stateless people, environment and natives issues and also Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Suhakam (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia) is here... issue about stateless people...they are precious from the Almighty, you have to know about what's happening in our environment... and about the natives,” Wong said.
He also said that lawyers must know about MA63, especially young lawyers who were not even born yet at that time.
“Don't just Google it and think you know about this MA63,” he said.
Apart from that, he also reminded the new lawyers to be courteous when they come to court, not to mislead the bench and be courteous to their seniors too.
Among the 12 new lawyers admitted to the Sabah Bar are State Director of Civil cum Senior Federal Counsel Andi Razalijaya A Dadi and a practicing lawyer in Kuala Lumpur Lim Tze Loong.
The other new advocates are Nicole Lee Yee Sze, Keng Ben Shen, Dayang Aidaku Amira Amiruddin, Olivia Foo Sun Sun, Kok Tyng Shiuan, Lenice Lim Siew Feong, Gloria Monjulim, Wong Jia En Justina, Melveroline Melton and Lydiana Laura Michael.
Sabah Law Society president Brenndon Keith Soh and State Counsel Dulce Milus Majawit raised no objection to the applications to be admitted to the Sabah Bar.
These new lawyers also made a pledge before the court to participate in National Legal Aid Foundation programmes for a minimum of 20 cases.
Counsel Datuk Gaanesh Nandy, who moved the motion for Andi Razalijaya, 40, told the court that the applicant, who hails from Tawau, was conferred Bachelor of Law (LLB with Honors) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Selangor in 2003.
Gaanesh further said that the applicant had completed his Master of Law (LLM in International Commercial Law) at University of Kent, Canterbury, UK in 2012.
He said that previously Andi Razalijaya was offered a post of legal officer in the Attorney General's Chambers Putrajaya in 2003 and being offered as permanent legal officer in 2004.
Gaanesh also said that throughout the applicant's service with the Federal Government, Andi Razalijaya was transferred to various places and divisions and being stationed in Sabah for his current post since 2017.
Meanwhile, counsel Lim Pitt Kong, who moved the motion for his son, Tze Loong, said that the applicant read International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford in 2008.
Then in 2011, he said that the applicant received his undergraduate Bachelor of Law degree with Honours from the University of Leicester.
Apart from that, the applicant also has three Master of Law degrees and he is presently practising as an advocate in the Corporate and Commercial Division for a legal firm in Kuala Lumpur.