Welcoming Speech by Chair at BC FLC Seminar "Avoiding the Quicksand of Divorce" 26.1.2019

A warm welcome to our distinguished guests

YA Dato’ Lee Swee Seng, High Court Judge,

Judge Foo Tuat Yien, former Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Singapore and Former Principal District Judge, Family Court,

Our senior practitioners Mr. Balwant Singh Sidhu, Mr. Kan Weng Hin, Ms Foo Yet Ngo 

Ms Malathi Das, Dr. Diana Lea Baranovich and moderator, Ms Vicky Alahakone.

I thank you all for your generosity in taking your time to share your ideas and expertise.

We are here today because we are connected by a shared interest in, and commitment to family justice. Today’s seminar on “Avoiding the Quicksand of Divorce” is organised by the Bar Council’s FLC and is the first event to kick-off 2019.

Family law is about people, about emotions, about families who have been shattered by  emotional trauma affecting the most intimate areas of their lives and which may sometimes cross over into areas of family violence, mental health, child protection, and, sometimes, criminal law. We then struggle with the gendered dimensions of these laws, eg marital rape, child marriage.

Because family law is different, the family justice system and the practice of family law must also be different. Family justice should be about insulating children from the effects of divorce and helping parties navigate the legal terrain, moving towards a path of healing, restoration, and positive transformation.

The family lawyer’s role is so important. We are not just handling a case, what we do has an impact on the lives of these families and in turn, impacts our society and community.  

The effect of divorce especially acrimonious ones, are destabilizing and debilitating to children.

We are required to display sensitivity and understanding. Towards this goal, we need to  acquire and build on our competencies, in-depth knowledge of the various complex legal issues that may arise. For example, cross-border jurisdictional disputes, trans-national property transactions, surrogacy and for me, more difficult, family violence, estrangement and alienation of children, mental illness, substance addiction, just to name a few.

I've read that in England for example, the FDAC Family Drug & Alcohol Courts was established to address parental substance abuse through judicial monitoring and multi-disciplinary therapeutic intervention.

Family practitioners and the family justice professionals are exposed to a high degree of violence and harm every day. This adds to the stress of our work and an area which not many speak about and requires some support.

So, as practitioners we need have emotional resilience and a lot of common sense. The emotional rewards are there when you have helped a family to quickly resolve and heal or protect a child, the impact is beyond just that one case, but spreads out to the community.

My hope is for an ongoing transformation of the Malaysian family justice system, for  specialised family courts that are problem-solving, harnessing other support systems that children and parents need. In this regard, I look forward to learning more about the Singapore experience.

Finally, my sincere gratitude to the organising committee, Alex Tan, Emelia Van Burle, Debbie Wong, Rajes and Florence who have selflessly volunteered their time to make today a reality.

I wish you all a fruitful and intellectually stimulating day.

Goh Siu Lin
Chairperson
Bar Council Family Law Committee
2018/2019 

Marital Rape - Interview with BFM on 1.11.2018

Sharing the podcast with BFM

https://www.bfm.my/criminalising-marital-rape

Chairman's Welcoming Speech: "Reaching beyond boundaries: Transcending Disability" - 15.10.2018

"The human spirit is one of ability, perseverance and courage that no disability can steal away." Anonymous.

Enhancing the rights of persons with disabilities does not happen in a vacuum. So much collaboration and commitment is required from everyone from the lawyers of the Malaysian Bar, NGOs, government, employers and other groups to build a deeper understanding of disability issues and to address the structural barriers that lie at the heart of discrimination. 

People with disabilities are routinely denied opportunities for work and education and face barriers in accessing places and services especially medical services that many of us take for granted. Too often, they are victims of violence, sexual abuse, harassment, humiliation, forced sterilisation and institutionalisation. 

This afternoon, the KLBar's GEDC committee are very fortunate to have a distinguished panel of passionate speakers, Dr. Amar Singh, Mr James Low and Ms Sangeet Kaur Deo with Amanda Kong as moderator. It should be noted that the last forum organised by the Bar Council on Disability Rights was in December 2010, so it's time to push the needle. 

I look forward to learning from them and moving forward, the challenge is to make the rights set out in the Convention a reality in the day-to-day lives of people with disabilities and for a more progressive, caring and inclusive Malaysia.

Goh Siu LIn

Chairman 2018/2019

YLC Charity Night "Underground Rock & Roll" - Chairman's Opening Address

Good evening everyone!!

Welcome to the 13th year of the KLBar YLC's Charity Night!

Since the inception of the inaugural charity night on 30^th June, 2005 spearheaded by the then YLC Chair Richard Wee. The KL Bar has raised over RM575,767.39 in donations as at 2016. These funds were channeled in support of various charities and other community initiatives.

So, this year, we thank each and every one of you – our talented performers and generous donors for generously dedicating your time (and ringgit) for this year's very worthy cause in aid of the Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Malaysia (CLAPAM). 

CLAPAM is a non-profit organisation that supports adults and children born with cleft lip and/or palate.

Funds collected will be used for life-changing surgeries, providing the gift of a beautiful smile, improved speech and breathing plus the unseen intangible benefits of greater self-esteem and personal worthiness.

We are deeply grateful to our many talented performers and the committed YLC organising team led by  New Sin Yew.

They have all worked tirelessly over the past few months to make today a reality. So now, it’s time to let our hair down, celebrate the spirit of community and immerse ourselves in music and song. KLBar, together we are a force for change. 

Thank you and have a wonderful evening! 

Goh Siu Lin

Chairman

Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee 

Gender-biased Nationality Laws - BFM Evening Edition 26.7.2018

Spoke about the discriminatory impact of Malaysian nationality laws.

BFM Podcast

KLBar Inclusive Community Outreach Programme to Taman Tasik Datuk Keramat - 29.10.2017

https://www.klbar.org.my/events/kuala-lumpur-bar-inclusive-community-outreach-programme/

This was coverage by Bernama of an event organised last year by the KLBar's Recreation, Social & Culture Committee - headed by Nik Elin. 

Click on this link: Bernama Coverage

"A group of 20 lawyers provided free legal advice to the public, particularly concerning children and crime issues, as a part of the initiatives to spread awareness and share the knowledge with the public.

According to the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee chairman, Goh Siu Lin said it is part of a pilot project named ‘Tindakan Komuniti Inklusif Anak Muda’ (Community Action Inclusive of the Young) participated by them."

The KLBar community outreach was supported by Suriana Welfare Society, Wibawa Women, Majlis Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak Malaysia and Drop & Wash. The programme aimed to provide FREE LEGAL AID at Datuk Keramat aimed at helping underprivileged youths in the area. In addition to the free Legal Aid Clinic which was run with the assistance of volunteer lawyers from the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur), the  many other activities included:

• 
  
• English Workshop;
• Counselling & Guidance;
• Child Abuse (Sexual abuse / bullying) Awareness;
• Connecting unemployed youths with training and employment opportunities with SMEs (An adoption registration for “Program Mentor-Mentee Bersama SME”);
• Self-Defence Workshop;
• Fun Archery.

Date: Sunday, 29 October 2017

Time: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Venue: Taman Tasik Datuk Keramat Kuala Lumpur

Long Call - Chua Jo Ann

LONG CALL SPEECH - CHUA JO ANN

Dengan izin Yang Arif,

Saya Goh Siu Lin, mewakili pihak Pempetisyen. Rakan-rakan bijaksana saya yang mewakili Peguam Negara Malaysia, Majlis Peguam Malaysia dan Jawatankuasa Peguam Kuala Lumpur telahpun diperkenalkan kepada Yang Arif sebelum ini. Dengan izin Yang Arif, saya memohon kebenaran Mahkamah Yang Mulia ini untuk meneruskan hujahan saya dalam Bahasa Inggeris. 

———————————-

My Lady,

The Petitioner was born in 1991 in Seremban and is the youngest of three children, born to Mr. Chua Kuang Chai and Mdm Margaret Ho Bee Leng.(Introduce parents)

The Petitioner read law under the University of London External programme, graduating with honours in October 2013. She then proceeded to the dreaded CLP which she completed in 2015. She then had the honour of doing her pupillage under the tutelage of my dear friend, Mr. Vincent Chan Siew Onn of Messrs Abdullah Chan & Co. During this time, the Petitioner was exposed to the legal intricacies of corporate transactions, closely guided by her Master who monitors her professional development. He is also uncompromising on professional ethics and emphasizes the importance inculcating inter-personal skills.  The Petitioner’s Master confirms that she has a positive attitude to work, is conscientious and dependable. Such qualities that would place her in good stead for her future career. 

On this special day, the Petitioner would like to express her love and gratitude to her parents and siblings for their unconditional love and guidance.  She acknowledges that her parents' financial sacrifice has enabled her to be the first in her family to enter the legal profession.

The Petitioner would also like to record her utmost appreciation to her master, Mr Vincent Chan Siew Onn for his guidance and invaluable advice, for which she says has been a privilege. To all the partners, associates and employees of Messrs Abdullah Chan & Co, her friends (Azrin, Li Ying, Sweet Yin, Mei Wee, Michelle Chong, Yik Yee, Jon, Cheng Wei) whose laughter, support and friendship have sustained her all these years. She is truly grateful to everyone who have made time to witness and share this joyful occasion.

The Petitioner may not realise this yet, but legal practice is very much like running a series of marathons.

In order to run a marathon, you need two overarching goals to motivate and sustain you. 

Process goals and Outcome goals.

Process goals means focus on mastering a task and increasing your skill level. Examples include following a training schedule, learning about training principles.

Whereas Outcome goals relate to the goals you hope to accomplish in the marathon. Examples include running faster, defeating a rival. 

As said by Emil Zatopek: 

“If you want to run, run a mile.
If you want to experience a different life,
run a marathon.”

However, in practice, to be at the top of your profession, skills and results alone are insufficient. 

Integrity and good character are key. 

This is well put by Matt Labrum:

“Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it, piece by piece - by thought, by choice, courage, and determination.” 

To this I add, good character is in some part, created in the service of others. 

I therefore encourage the Petitioner to participate or offer her services to many committees of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee and Malaysian Bar and to become a member of the Association of Women Lawyers. 

My Lady,

I humbly submit that the Petitioner is of good character and attitude, and so, worthy of admission to the Bar. I believe the Petitioner’s papers are in order and there are not objections from my learned friends from the AG’s Chambers, Bar Council and KL Bar Committee 

I humbly pray that the Petitioner, Chua Jo Ann be admitted and enrolled as an advocate and solicitor to the High Court of Malaya.

I seek leave from this Honourable Court to invite my learned friend, Mr. Vincent Chan Siew Onn, the Petitioner’s pupil master to robe the Petitioner.