On the 25th of May 2024, I attended as a participant of Taylor’s Law Society to the inaugural UMLS Legal Summit, a flagship event organized by the UM Law Society Academics Bureau. The summit's theme was “Youth and Justice: Shaping the Future of Law”. The event included pop-up booths, with the appearance of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as MCCHR, SUHAKAM, and Amnesty International Malaysia AIM).
Ong Yi Xuen, the Director of UMLS Legal Summit welcomed the President of UMLS, Mr Dhaman Surein to officiate the event. Moving on, Dr. Najwa binti Rosli, the Deputy Dean (Student Affairs) delivered a passionate call, encouraging the university students to seize this opportunity to engage with various legal professionals, politicians, and fellow students from other universities. After a captivating poem recitation, Mr. Philip Koh Tong Ngee, Partner of Mah Kamariyah Philip & Koh shared invaluable life lessons from his over 40 years of expertise with us. He emphasized the importance of combining passion with principled pragmatism and urged all to "pursue justice whenever you are”!
Different Universities presenting their Legal Reform Proposals
I’m proud to announce that Taylor’s Law Society (TLSOC) was one of the shortlisted law societies that gave a presentation on our legal reform proposal. The team consisting of Radzin Rafiq, Ng U, and Michelle Lee Shu Ling from Taylor's Law Society (TLSOC) presented the crucial issue of marital rape in Malaysia. They highlighted the urgency of criminalizing marital rape to promote gender equality within marriage, as well as protect the rights and dignity of victims by providing them with legal recourse and access to justice.
Other law societies who were invited to present their legal reform proposals were Universiti Malaya and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. The team from Suarasiswa x UM followed with a rousing argument for amending the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU). They emphasized the necessity of protecting students' rights to engage in political activities without fear of retribution. Lastly, USIM took the stage, presenting its visionary legal reform proposal on amendments to Section 3 of the Civil Law Acts, seeking to empower more responsive and adaptable legal proceedings.
Panel Session 1: The Ripple Effect: How Youth-led Movements Have Influenced Legal Reform
The first-panel session was an electrifying discussion featuring YB Dr. Radzi Jidin, the Member of Parliament for Putrajaya, YB Tuan Ramkarpal Singh, the former Deputy Minister in charge of Law and Institutional Reforms in the Unity Government, and Mr. Vince Tan Hoo Seh, a stalwart advocate of human rights and sustainability.
The esteemed panelists passionately examined the importance of youth movements, their impacts, practical engagement strategies, and invaluable lessons from triumphs like UNDI-18, which lowered Malaysia's voting age from 21 to 18. Mr. Vince emphasized that "we only have the power when we exercise it" while YB Dr. Radzi Jidin championed the need for the youth voice in legislation, as perspectives vary across generations. Before the session ended, the panelists expressed their hope that Malaysian youth would take concerted action to continue the noble pursuit of legal reform.
Panel Session 2: Bridging the Gap – Youth Involvement in Legal Reforms for Academic Freedom
The second panel session consisted of three notable panelists, namely Dato' Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, one of Malaysia's foremost advocates, Mr. Haziq Azfar Ishak, the Communication Director of the KEADILAN Youth Wing, and YB Howard Lee Chuan Ho, the sole MP appointed to the Malaysian Foreign Minister's Consultative Council for Foreign Policy.
With a consensus that existing laws like AUKU have posed barriers to freedom of expression, Dato' Malik Imtiaz Sarwar asserted that these laws must be reexamined to confer the freedom to express ideas, no matter how unpopular, as social dynamics have shifted. The eminent panelists further highlighted critical areas for improvement to promote a more inclusive and safer environment for students to exercise their rights to academic expression following their previous experiences.
Panel Session 3: Empowering the Next Generation – Strategies for Youth Engagement in Legal Reform
The third session was moderated by Mr. Bryan Richard, Head of Business Development at the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), featuring Mr. S. Saravana Kumar, one of the 100 leading lawyers who chairs the Taxation & Customs Committee of LAWASIA, Ms. Tun Laila Tun Rafaee, a lawyer who has a following of 700 thousand on TikTok, and Miss Kee Hui Yee, the Co-Chairperson of the Bar Council's National Young Lawyers and Pupils Committee.
These accomplished legal professionals, hailing from diverse entities, shared their amazing experiences and unique perspectives, focusing on ways to encourage youth engagement in legal reform, tackle legal reform in politics and law, and practical avenues to convey voices from universities to the executive branch.
Let me share some of the key takeaways from this panel session. For starters, Mr. S. Saravana Kumar encouraged youngsters to engage by improving their sensitivity towards legal information and participating in dialogues to express their views, suggesting they first engage with civil society movements before entering politics. Secondly, Ms. Tun Laila Tun Rafaee shared insightful strategies on leveraging social media for legal reform and advised students to be careful when sharing information, as there is a fine line between subjective opinion and facts. Lastly, Ms. Kee Hui Yee commended the government and relevant institutions for their commendable efforts in providing suitable spaces for young lawyers to participate in legal reform. She advised students to join mentorship programs hosted by these institutions and NGOs to broaden their knowledge and networks!
The closing speech was given by Malvin Njau Pulo, the Vice Director of UMLS Legal Summit. Following the speech, the event concluded with a celebratory group photo commemorating this milestone achievement by UMLS.
My Personal Takeaway from this Event
UMLS Legal Summit was an eye-opening experience for me as a first-year law student. Initially, I was unsure about the pressing need for legal changes, but the passionate speeches from the distinguished panelists resonated deeply, urging me to think beyond myself and consider the future of the nation. The summit highlighted our ongoing commitment to legal reform and emphasized the role of youth in shaping the legal landscape. For instance, I find myself exploring critical questions about what legal reform entails, the protections and support we can expect, and how society can contribute!
Another key takeaway was the panelists' powerful message that we as the younger generation must think independently, question what is right and wrong, and courageously embrace our societal responsibility! Their life stories left a lasting impact, reminding us that we are building on the foundations laid by those before us and must passionately continue the essential work of legal reform.
Written by: Kee Yi Gin
Edited by: Michelle Lee Shu Ling
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