LAWLINK - Power of Sail Alumnus Stanley Tan '99 - Faculty of Law
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LAWLINK
The Alumni Magazine of the National University of Singapore Law School
Vol 1 No.2 July-December 2002
ISSN: 0219-6441
Power of Sail
Alumnus Stanley Tan ’99
Contents
03 Message from
Dean Tan Cheng
Han ‘87 A Word from
04 the Editor
Law School
Highlights I t has been six months since the launch of the
inaugural issue of LAWLINK . In that time,
numerous alumni have written in to express their
’92 and Arul Ramiah ’95 are actively engaged in
overseas aid work and traditional Indian dance
respectively. Meanwhile, scores of alumni have
12
support for the magazine, and for stronger alumni shown great support for the ClassAction segment
relations in general. We are extremely heartened dedicated to keeping classmates updated on one
by your encouragement, and look forward to another’s developments. The Classes of 1992 and
Feature Interview presenting even more interesting issues of 1993 have started Class Websites hosted on the
LAWLINK in the future. Law School server (http://law.nus.edu.sg/alumni).
We are also helping several classes plan their
14 ALAWMNUS
Vast changes are afoot at the Law School. In this
issue, alumni will have an idea of how the Law
School is striving to keep abreast of developments
around us. The introduction of a new curriculum,
reunions in the next few months. Do get in touch
with us to see how we can facilitate class websites
and reunions.
Feature with emphasis on legal skills and transnational LAWLINK has now grown substantively in its
perspectives, is explained by Robert Beckman and content even though this is only our second issue.
In that regard, LAWLINK is testimony
22
Eleanor Wong ’85. The opening of the new C J
Koh Law Library marks a tremendous improvement to the strengthening relations between the Law
to our library facilities, thanks to the philanthropy School and her alumni. We hope that this
of our benefactor, the estate of the late Mr Koh publication will continue to steer us in that
Future Alumni Choon Joo. More student exchange agreements direction.
have been signed, and new collaborations with
28
law schools in the United States and China have
been forged. Our law students continue to excel in
international mooting competitions - the latest
victory was at the Vis Moots in Vienna, where we
ClassAction emerged champions in our very first attempt. The
Singapore Law Review continues to grow in
strength and our student editors recently hosted a
LAWLINK is a publication of:
lecture by the Chief Justice of Malaysia. To foster
The Alumni Relations Committee
greater student - alumni links, the Law School has
NUS Law School
introduced a seminar series which aims to bring
13 Law Link, Kent Ridge
distinguished alumni back to campus to speak to
Singapore 117590
students on their work and interests.
Special thanks to:
Now that the Law School is in its fifth decade, it is
Gary Bell, Tracey Evans Chan ‘97, Jamila
perhaps opportune to reflect on our history and
Osman, Valerie Sam, Alfian Ahmad & Dean
heritage. In this issue, we bring you an interview
Tan Cheng Han ‘87
with our Founding Dean, Lee Sheridan, who
pioneered the establishment of the Law School in Alan Tan Khee Jin ‘93
To get on our mailing list, write with full
the 1950’s. We also feature several of our alumni Associate Professor and Editor, LAWLINK
contact details to lawlink@nus.edu.sg or
who have excelled in various endeavours - national
LAWLINK , NUS Law School, 13 Law sailor and Olympian Stanley Tan ’99 is pursuing his
Link, Singapore 117590. LAWLINK can be accessed on-line at
dreams, Nuraliza Osman ’00 fulfilled hers by
http://law.nus.edu.sg/alumni
becoming Miss Singapore 2002, while Ng Yuina
03 LAWLINK
Message from
Dean Tan Cheng Han ’87 Cheng Han during his visit to Shanghai in April
The NUS Law School will soon start its new Infocommunications Law, International Tax Law, Law School Donors
2002/03 academic year in late July. This new year Marine Insurance, Personal Property Law, (Jan - Jun 2002)
will be an important one for us as the Law School Restitution, and Trade Dispute Mechanisms.
is implementing a new curriculum. In this Dean’s Circle
curriculum, we will continue to focus on core In most Australian, Canadian and US law schools,
subjects such as Contract, Tort, Criminal Law and fund raising is a major priority. It is often said that Ong Tiong Tat, trustee of the estate of
Property Law, just to name a few. These core the principal role of a Dean of a US law school is C J Koh - $250,000
subjects constitute the basic building blocks of fund raising. This is increasingly becoming a priority
Nesadevi Sandrasegara ’61 and Dilhan Pillay
legal knowledge and are arguably the most for us too. If we are to continue to remain
Sandrasegara ’88 - $50,000
important components of legal education. competitive vis-à-vis other leading law schools in
the world, we will need to build up our V.K. Rajah ’82 - $50,000
In addition to these ‘traditional’ subjects that are endowment. I am therefore pleased to announce
found in the curricula of many other law schools, that my colleagues have resolved to establish the Alumni Circle - Up to $1,000
we will also be introducing a number of Lee Sheridan Legal Education Fund. This Fund,
‘perspective’ law courses into our list of named in honour of the first Dean of the Law Tommy Koh ’61
compulsory subjects, as well as a Legal Analysis, School, hopes to raise at least $2 million. The funds Lai Siu Chiu ‘72
Writing and Research programme. The raised will be principally used to fund scholarships Lee A Sheridan
‘perspective’ subjects are ‘Introduction to Legal and visiting appointments. The establishment of
Theory’, ‘Singapore Legal System’, and this Fund also allows us, happily, to honour Faculty Circle - Up to $500
‘Comparative Legal Traditions’. These subjects are Professor Sheridan, who did so much to establish
intended to give our students a broader the Law School and to place it on a firm footing. Foo Tuat Yien ‘76
understanding of the law that goes beyond subject Professor Sheridan has been kind enough to Anthony Wee ‘96
- specific legal rules and principles. consent to the establishment of this Fund, which Tan Boon Heng ‘93
he regards as a “great honour”. Davy Devaraj ‘77
The Legal Analysis, Writing and Research Tiu Lue Ping ‘81
programme will require law students to write a It is my hope, therefore, that you will donate Lim Mei Mei Michele ‘88
great deal more than they currently do. They will generously to this Fund, or to the Law School for Ong San Kyar Edwin ‘99
be required to write across different legal subjects, any other specified purpose. Many have already Balasubramaniam s/o Appavu ‘91
thereby reducing (hopefully) the tendency for done so and the Law School thanks you for your Ngoh Siew Yen ‘01
students to ‘segmentalize’ the law rather than generosity. We will be establishing a Donors’ Board Mah Swee Keong ‘94
taking a more holistic approach that sees the to recognize all donations of $10,000.00 and Tay Teck Guan Patrick ‘95
various subjects as parts of an overall framework. above, whether made in a single donation or Somusundram Doradevi ‘74
Students will also be taught how to engage in legal through a number of donations made over a Koh Keng Boon Patrick ‘74
research, including the many electronic research period of time. Lilian Goh ‘77
tools that are currently available. Mooting and trial Ng Yin Yin ‘67
advocacy will continue to be a part of the I hope you enjoy reading this issue of LAWLINK Ong Ban Chai ‘68
curriculum to ensure that oral communication skills and I congratulate the editorial board on producing Chow Peng ‘76
are not neglected. another very interesting issue. Liew Thiam Leng ‘75
Vincent Lim ‘94
Finally, the Law School must continue to keep up Huang Yen San Petrus LLM ‘91
with developments and offer new electives where Judith Prakash ‘74
these become necessary. To this end, a number of Louis D’Souza ‘82
new electives will be offered in the new academic Chow Peng & Partners
year including Corporate Restructuring,
Law School Highlights
Collaboration with the East China
University of Politics and Law, Shanghai
The Law School recently signed a comprehensive
agreement to collaborate on academic matters
with the East China University of Politics and Law
(ECUPL) in Shanghai, China. The agreement was
signed by Dean Tan Cheng Han ’87 and Professor
He Qinhua, President of ECUPL, on 16 April 2002
during Dean Tan’s visit to ECUPL. The NUS
delegation also included Associate Professors Li
Faculty Update Meiqin, Alexander Loke ’90 and Daniel Seng ’92.
The agreement with ECUPL provides for student
and staff exchange programmes, joint participation
in research activities, joint academic conferences
and the exchange of institutional publications. The
LAWLINK launched! seven District Judges and Registrars. Two of Jeff’s
ECUPL is the first Asian law school with which the
works were recently cited by the High Court of
LAWLINK was officially launched at the Moot Faculty has signed an exchange agreement.
Singapore in Foo Ko Hing v Foo Chee Heng.
Court on 30 January 2002 by NUS Provost, Prof.
Meanwhile, Teo Keang Sood’s book, Strata Title in
Chong Chi Tat. Two paintings by Namiko Chan ’97 The first exchange of students is expected to take
Singapore and Malaysia (2nd Ed, 2001), was cited
were also unveiled - Uma, donated by Namiko in place in August 2002. In connection with the staff
by the Singapore Court of Appeal in Management
honour of her professors, and Untitled - acquired exchange agreement, three academics from the
Corporation Strata Title No 473 v De Beers
by the Law School in honour of our departed ECUPL are expected to take up visiting
Jewellery Pte Ltd. Victor Ramraj’s book, The
colleagues, Ricardo Almeida and Peter English. The appointments at NUS in August 2002. From the
Criminal Lawyer’s Guide to Extraordinary Remedies
event was attended by various alumni who had NUS end, Alexander Loke ’90 and Daniel Seng ’92
(with Brian J. Gover) was cited by the Ontario
contributed to the inaugural issue, including will visit ECUPL and teach Securities Regulation and
Court of Appeal and the Ontario Superior Court of
Gregory Vijayendran ’92, Rupert Ong ’86, Judy Information Technology Law respectively. The
Justice in R. v. Sheppard and Ontario (Ministry of
Chang ’92 and Sherman Ong ’95. Namiko graced ECUPL was founded in 1952 as a result of a
Labour) v. Intracorp Developments (Lombard) Inc.
the front cover of the inaugural issue and was merger between the departments of law, politics
The Australian Companies and Securities Advisory
represented at the launch by her parents. and sociology of Saint Johns, Fudan, Nanjing,
Committee recently cited an article by Tan Cheng
Dongwu, Hujiang and Anhui Universities.
Han ’87 entitled “Protecting the Integrity of the
Appointments and Movements
Securities Market: Recent Amendments to the Law
In early 2002, George Wei Sze Shun was appointed “We are delighted to enter into this agreement
Relating to Insider Trading” in the 2000 issue of
Professor in the Law School. George specialises in with the East China University of Politics and Law.
the Singapore Journal of Legal Studies. An article
Intellectual Property Law and has written It has one of the best law schools in China and
by Alan Tan ’93 - “Adverse Inferences and the
extensively on the subject. Warm wishes to signals the NUS Faculty of Law’s desire to give our
Right to Silence: Re-examining the Singapore
Valentine Selvam Winslow, who recently retired students the opportunity to spend a significant
Experience”, Crim. Law Rev. (07/97), was cited by
from full-time teaching. Val has assumed a part- amount of time in China to familiarise themselves
the Northern Territory Law Reform Committee in
time position as Associate Professorial Fellow and with the people, culture and laws of a country that
Australia in its recommendations on the right to
will continue to grace the hallways of the Law is already a major economic force in the world
silence. Adjunct Fellow, Tanja Masson-Zwaan, who
School. Val is also devoting more time to Rotary today”, said Dean Tan Cheng Han.
teaches Aviation Law and Space Law, was elected
Club and volunteer activities. The Faculty welcomes to the Space Law Committee of the International
back Eleanor Wong ’85, who returns to the Law Law Association (ILA) at its meeting in New Delhi in
School to head a new Legal Writing Programme. A April 2002.
warm welcome back as well to Ho Hock Lai ’89,
Tracey Evans Chan Weng ’97, Dawn Tan ’97 and
Burton Ong ’99, who have all recently completed International Advisory Panel
their post-graduate studies abroad. Meanwhile, The Law School’s International Advisory Panel
Alexander Loke ’90 and Tang Hang Wu ’95 are visited Kent Ridge and met up with the Faculty, the
leaving for Columbia and Cambridge Universities University administration, students, alumni and the
respectively to pursue their doctoral degrees. A legal fraternity. One of the IAP’s objectives is to
very warm welcome to Assoc. Prof. Stephen Girvin, assist the Law School in charting out strategies to
Visiting Professors Geoffrey Morse and William meet the contemporary challenges of legal
Swadling and our team of Legal Writing Instructors education. The members of the IAP are Professors A toast to the NUS – ECUPL collaboration
- Shawn Chen ’99, Andrew Hanam, Jackson Pek, Michael Reisman of Yale Law School, Michael
Alexandra Otis, Lim Kien Thye ’85, Catherine Crommelin of Melbourne University, Stephen
Poyen, Viviene Kaur Sandhu, Jothi Saunthararajah Two-Year J.D. Degree for NUS Law
Toope of McGill University, James Fawcett of
’86, Helena Whalen-Bridge and Claire Wong ’88. Graduates at George Washington
Nottingham University and John Dwyer of the Boalt
University Law School
Hall Law School, University of California at
Publications and Berkeley. The NUS Law School also has a Steering NUS law graduates who wish to work in the United
External Appointments Committee made up of distinguished alumni States can now obtain a Juris Doctor degree (JD)
The Halsbury’s Laws of Singapore on Civil Tommy Koh ’61, Chan Sek Keong ’61, Philip Pillai within two years instead of the usual three. Under
Procedure - edited by Jeffrey Pinsler - was ’71, Andrew Ang ’71, VK Rajah ’82, Davinder a joint agreement between NUS and the George
published in 2002. The authors included Jeff and Singh ’82 and K Shanmugam ’84. Washington University Law School (GW) in
05 LAWLINK
The Staff of the Law School
Washington D.C., NUS law graduates attaining a expertise. More such seminars are being planned Mr. Steven T. Kargman from the Export-Import
minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 for the 2002/03 academic year. Bank of the United States (Ex-Im), who spoke on
during their first-year JD programme at GW will “Major Challenges in Emerging Market Debt
be allowed to transfer 28 credits from their NUS Visitors to the Law School Restructurings”.
law degree. This will enable them to complete the The Law School received visits from numerous
JD within 2 years of full-time study. Dean Michael foreign delegations in the last few months,
World Trade Law Conference
K. Young of the GW Law School stated: “No including from the Law Faculty of the University of The Law School hosted its first World Trade Law
relationship is more important than America’s Malaya (UM) in Kuala Lumpur. The visit by our UM Conference, “A Primer on the WTO, Developing
relationship with Asia. We are delighted to be able colleagues, headed by Dean Badariah Sahamid, Countries and Corporate Strategies”, on 1 July
to work with NUS, one of the best universities in was especially significant as it reflected the warm 2002. More than 50 participants heard
Asia, indeed, in the world, to help strengthen the ties between two law schools with common presentations on issues ranging from special and
US-Asia relationship.” historical roots. Dean Badariah’s visit was to differential treatment for developing countries to
Besides NUS law graduates, law graduates from reciprocate the visit made by Dean Tan Cheng Han antidumping law and the WTO dispute settlement
only two other universities, namely, Oxford and ’87 to UM in November 2001. The Law School also process. Professor Raj Bhala of the George
Cambridge, have been allowed by GW to transfer received a delegation from the Ministry of Justice Washington University was the main speaker at the
their credits in a similar manner. “GW is an of Vietnam. Several Vietnamese alumni are conference. Raj Bhala is the author of one of the
excellent law school and NUS law graduates will currently with the Ministry of Justice, including Ms leading textbooks on trade law - International
benefit from pursuing graduate studies there”, Duong Thi Thanh Mai MCL ’95. Trade Law: Theory and Practice - and has served as
said Dean Tan Cheng Han ’87. “At the same time, a consultant to the World Bank and the IMF. In the
this is one of the NUS Law Faculty’s initiatives to Asia Pacific Centre for panel discussions that followed, the main issue of
build a global law school to meet the challenges Environmental Law (APCEL) interest was how the inequalities created by
posed by the increasingly cross-border nature of APCEL recently launched a seminal book on globalisation and world trade could be alleviated
legal practice. As such, we are currently environmental law in the Asia Pacific region, within the framework of the existing WTO rules.
negotiating similar programmes with a very select entitled Capacity Building for Environmental Law in
group of overseas law schools.” the Asian and Pacific Region: Approaches and The conference ended with a discussion of how
Resources (Donna G. Craig, Nicholas A. Robinson & international trade law is beginning to play an
The Alumni Seminar Series Koh Kheng Lian ‘61, eds.) The book is published by important role in advising corporate clients how
the Asian Development Bank, and draws upon the best to structure their businesses to take advantage
The Alumni Relations Committee kicked off the
course materials developed by various global of WTO rules and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Alumni Seminar Series in April 2002 with a talk by
experts for an environmental teachers’ training Many of the practising lawyers attending the
Ho Seng Chee ’93, Legal Counsel at the
course hosted by APCEL in Singapore in 1997 and conference were intrigued at the possibilities that
International Monetary Fund in Washington D.C.
1998. Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Minister of State for World Trade Law provided in addition to the
Seng Chee spoke on the “The Work of the IMF
Health and the Environment, was Guest-of-Honour normal domestic remedies that they were already
and its Legal and Institutional Aspects.” The
at the book launch. APCEL has also launched a acquainted with. The conclusion of the conference
second seminar in the series was delivered by Tan
new website at http://law.nus.edu.sg/apcel. was that World Trade Law will become increasingly
Siew Huay ’80, Head (Legal), Civil Aviation
more important and lawyers should play a role in
Authority of Singapore. Siew Huay spoke on
Centre for Commercial Law highlighting this importance to their clients.
“Recent Developments In Aviation Law & Policy:
Studies (CCLS)
Aircraft War Risk Insurance Post - 9/11 & The New
Obituary
Unidroit Convention On Interests In Mobile The CCLS recently organised a seminar on “Recent
Equipment”. The Alumni Seminar Series aims to Developments in Banking Law”, featuring speakers Richard Townshend-Smith, who taught at the Law
bring distinguished alumni back to the Law School Emeritus Prof Peter Ellinger, Assoc Prof Daniel Seng School in 1990/1991, passed away recently in
to speak to students on their areas of interest and ’92 and Mr Eric Chan ’92. The Centre also hosted Swansea, Wales at the age of 52.
Law School Highlights
C J Koh Law
Library Opens
The C J Koh Law Library celebrated its official one which “calls for honour, respect, dignity
opening on 27 February 2002 with much and justice.” Mr Ong also urged all students to
fanfare. The momentous occasion saw the “uphold the reputation and honour of the
Honourable the Chief Justice Dr Yong Pung How profession as their first priority.” After the
LLD ’01 officiating at the opening. The event unveiling of the plaque by the Chief Justice,
was attended by many illustrious members of guests were given a tour of the new and
the legal fraternity, including our Law School refurbished library premises. The generous
alumni. It was heart-warming to see the alumni donation of $5.145 million by the late C J Koh
pleasantly surprised and thrilled at the has allowed the library to upgrade and expand
transformation of the Law Library, a place on existing facilities, a project which entailed
familiar to any law student. Guests included the two years of massive renovation and building
Attorney - General, Mr Chan Sek Keong ’61 and works. The Library now has a distinctive main
members of the Judiciary, including our former entrance. It also now features ample Plug-n-Play
Dean, Justice Tan Lee Meng ’72. facilities and wireless connection to the campus
network, allowing access to the Digital Library
At the opening, Mr Ong Tiong Tat, the trustee from anywhere in the library premises and by
The new C J Koh Law Library
of the estate of the late C J Koh, spoke of the remote means and dialup. With the provision of
was officially opened by the new library facilities being provided for law a lift, the library is also accessible to the
students who had chosen a noble profession, physically-disadvantaged.
Honourable the Chief Justice
Yong Pung How in February
2002. Law Librarian, Thavamani
Prem Kumar, explains how the
generous donation from
the estate of the late
Koh Choon Joo has
transformed our law library.
07 LAWLINK
In addition, the Faculty Resource Room has annals of the library’s history. Miss Jill Quah, “Mr Koh was a thrifty person. He
been upgraded to provide research and Director, Library and Information Resources,
computer facilities for faculty. Student then presented the Chief Justice with an has entrusted all his savings to
computer facilities have also been expanded at honorary library membership card. The
me. Both of us believe in the
the Basement level. Other features include evening’s programme ended with a dinner at
purpose - built study carrels for research the NUSS Guild House, generously hosted by Mr importance of education. To me,
and Mrs Ong Tiong Tat.
students, a specially - designed Audio - Visual the most honourable thing to do
Viewing Room and the 3M RFID (Radio -
Frequency - Identification) book check-out
Mr C J Koh’s donation has allowed the C J Koh with his estate and to honour
Law Library to take its place among the premier
system. NUS is to date the largest academic
law libraries in the world, with its collection of
him is to invest in education. As
institution in the world to have installed the 3M
over 54,000 unique titles and more than Mr Koh had been a lawyer and a
RFID system. 173,000 volumes in various formats, both print
and electronic. Its 4,475 periodical titles and magistrate, it is most appropriate
During the tour, the Chief Justice was impressed 2,019 current subscriptions further enhance this to contribute to the law library.”
with the Library’s new facilities and wealth of valuable and growing collection. The C J Koh
information resources, both in printed and Law Library is now in an excellent position to Mr Ong Tiong Tat, trustee of the
electronic formats. Later, the Chief Justice enable NUS Law School staff, students and
signed the Library Visitors’ Book to alumni to keep abreast of legal developments estate of the late Koh Choon Joo.
commemorate this important occasion in the locally and globally.
The late C J Koh was born in Indonesia on 1 January 1901. He left home for England at the young age
of six and spent his early years in North Wales. He later studied law at the Middle Temple in London and
become a barrister. When he came to Singapore, he joined his mentor, Sir Ong Siang Song, in the latter’s
law firm. Mr Koh was a gentleman lawyer who inspired great loyalty among his clients, so much so that
they would refuse to see any other lawyer when they needed legal advice. He was also an avid self-
taught artist who painted as many as 400 oil paintings. The opening of the C J Koh Law Library also saw
the launch of the C J Koh Online Gallery (http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/cjkoh/intro.html) which displays the
late Mr Koh’s paintings online. The Library also houses a gallery where visitors can view selected
paintings which are rotated periodically.
Law School Highlights
Chief Justice of Malaysia
Delivers 15th Singapore
Law Review Lecture
The 15th Singapore Law Review
Lecture was delivered by the Right
Honourable Tan Sri Dato’ Seri
Mohamed Dzaiddin Bin Haji
Abdullah, Chief Justice of
Malaysia, on 1 March 2002 at the
City Hall Chambers. His Honour
spoke on “Trial and Appellate
Courts - A Malaysian Perspective”.
The Singapore Law Review’s
editors, Sonita Jeyapathy ’03 and The Singapore Law Review (SLR) is a law journal from both sides of the Causeway. Present were
managed exclusively by the students of the NUS Chief Justice Yong Pung How, Attorney-General
Dean Cher ’03, report: Law School. In 1984, the SLR Editorial Board Chan Sek Keong ’61 and Justice of Appeal
launched the Singapore Law Review Lecture Chao Hick Tin. Members of the Singapore
Series. In so doing, the SLR hoped to develop judiciary who were present included Justices Lai
the tradition of public lecturing by luminaries in Kew Chai ’66, S. Rajendran ’62, MPH Rubin
the legal field. The SLR Lecture Series is the ’66, Kan Ting Chiu ‘70, Lai Siu Chiu ‘72, Judith
longest-running public lecture series in Prakash ’74, Tan Lee Meng ’72 and Judicial
Singapore. Previous speakers have included Prof Commissioners Choo Han Teck ‘79, Lee Seiu Kin
S Jayakumar ’63, former Attorney-General Tan ’86, Tay Yong Kwang ’81, Woo Bih Li ’77 and
Boon Teik, former Solicitor-General Koh Eng Belinda Ang.
Tian ’61, Prof Tommy Koh ’61, Prof Gerald
Dworkin and Prof Lee Hoong Phun ‘72. This The Malaysian guests included the Chief Judge
year, the SLR was honoured to have the of the High Court in Malaya, Dato’ Ahmad
Chief Justice of Malaysia deliver the 15th Fairuz bin Dato’ Sheikh Abdul Halim ’67, the
Lecture in the Series. Chief Judge of the High Court in Sabah and
Sarawak, Tan Sri Datuk Steve Shim Lip Kiong,
The lecture was attended by Singapore and Malaysian Attorney-General Dato’ Abdul Gani
Malaysian Judges as well as legal practitioners Patail, Federal Court Judge Dato’ Siti Norma
09 LAWLINK
Dzaiddin provided personal anecdotes and The evening drew to a close with a dinner at
shared with the audience his experience as a the Singapore Academy of Law Restaurant. The
member of the Bar and the Bench. He explained SLR Board of Editors was delighted with the
the historical development of the Malaysian success of the lecture. With the SLR aspiring to
courts in the past one hundred years, detailing provide a forum for discussion among students,
in particular the development of the current academics and members of the legal fraternity
three-tier superior court system. in the Asia Pacific region, it is hoped that Tan
Sri Dzaiddin’s lecture will be a significant
The Chief Justice also noted the need to reduce milestone in the SLR’s attempt to extend its
the judicial workload of the Malaysian courts lecture series to the regional stage.
and cited the upcoming implementation of an
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
programme in Malaysia. Tan Sri Dzaiddin
cautioned, however, that “the system must be
as good as the men and women who build on
and manage the system.” He thus enumerated
Yaakob, Judges of the Court of Appeal, Dato’ the necessary qualities of a good judge,
KC Vohrah ’64 and Datuk Wira Haji Mohd Noor highlighting in particular the need for “a person
bin Haji Ahmad and Judges of the High Court who is honest, impartial and who is able to
of Malaya, Dato’ Arifin bin Zakaria, Dato’ Haji discount his prejudices whatever they are and
Yaacob bin Haji Ismail, Datuk Abdul Wahab bin whether they relate to race, religion or politics.”
Patail, Datuk Zainun bt. Ali, Dato’ Azhar bin Haji The Chief Justice also raised a specific concern
Ma’ah and Datuk Heliliah Mohd Yusof ’70. facing the Malaysian courts, i.e. the increasing
need for specialisation. In this regard, he
The evening started off with a pre-lecture suggested the adoption of continuing judicial
reception for our honoured guests, providing an training for judges to enlighten them on issues
opportunity for the legal and judicial fraternity which had not been so pertinent in the past.
of both countries to interact and renew
acquaintances. Many of the guests were Tan Sri Dzaiddin ended his speech by noting
grateful to be able to catch up with former that the century ahead will see remarkable
classmates and colleagues. Tan Sri Dzaiddin’s changes in society. He added, though, that
lecture was eagerly anticipated by all who were “nothing at all can change the convivial
interested in the latest developments in the connection we have between the legal and
Malaysian Courts and the direction to be taken judicial fraternity of both Singapore and
by the judiciary in the coming years. In his Malaysia.”
entertaining and instructive address, Tan Sri
The SLR wishes to express its gratitude
to Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow as
well as the Deanery and administrative
staff of the NUS Law School for their
unwavering support of this event. Tan
Sri Dzaiddin’s lecture will be
reproduced in Volume 22 of the
Singapore Law Review, appearing in
November 2002. For further details,
contact the SLR Editorial Board at
singaporelawreview@post1.com
Law School Highlights
New LL.B. Curriculum Takes Effect
The Law School is introducing 120 credits. Subjects that were previously “3 units” two perspective subjects in Year One (Singapore
and “6 units” in weight will now carry “4 credits” and Legal System and Introduction to Legal Theory) and
a new LL.B. curriculum with effect “8 credits” respectively. one in Year Two (Comparative Legal Traditions).
from July 2002. The curricular
Compulsory Core Law Curriculum There will also be four legal skills subjects. Legal
changes will be the most radical Writing I and Legal Writing II will be taught in Year
The first two years of law school are critically
in 20 years. Vice-Dean Robert important. It is during these years that much of the
One and will focus on oral presentation, research
and writing skills. The legal skills subjects in Year
Beckman explains: compulsory core curriculum will be implemented.
Two will build on those introduced in Year One and
The objectives of the Compulsory Core Law
will be taught mainly by part-time practising lawyers
NUS recently approved a new LL.B. curriculum, Curriculum (“CCLC”) are: (a) to give students an
in order to expose students to practical problems
following consultations with students, the profession, understanding of the basic law subjects and general
and skills. To this end, students will be introduced to
the Minister of Law, the Attorney-General and the principles that are essential for every law graduate
Trial Advocacy skills. Another course, Legal Case
Chief Justice. The Law School’s Steering Committee and lawyer; (b) to provide students with training in
Studies, will expose students to practical problems
and International Advisory Panel were also consulted. the basic skills essential for every lawyer, including
that cross traditional subject boundaries.
Pursuant to the revamp, the Law School will analysis, research, writing, advocacy and problem-
implement several changes which will bring it in line solving; and (c) to give students an appreciation of
with reforms at other NUS Faculties. the role of law and lawyers in their own society and
in the global community that will better equip them The Compulsory Core Law Curriculum
First, we are moving to a semester system. All subjects to deal with the challenges of globalization. Year One (with effect from 2002-03) Sem. Credits
except the Law of Contract will be taught and Law of Contract 1-2 8
examined in one semester rather than over two as in To achieve these objectives, the CCLC is designed Legal Writing I 1 4
the past. Second, for most subjects, the final to expose students to three categories of Courses: Law of Torts 1 8
examination will no longer be the sole mode of Singapore Legal System 1 4
(a) Substantive Law Courses designed to provide a
assessment. Writing assignments will carry a weight of Legal Writing II 2 4
solid background to the fundamental principles in
Criminal Law 2 8
20 to 40 per cent in determining the grade. Some core law topics; (b) Legal Skills Courses designed to
Introduction to Legal Theory 2 4
subjects will use alternative modes of assessment such provide essential skills in analysis, research, writing, Total 40
as oral presentations and class performance. In advocacy and problem-solving and to help students
addition, the final examination in almost all subjects tackle more advanced law courses in their third and Year Two (with effect from 2003-04) Sem. Credits
will employ an “open book” form, allowing students fourth years; and (c) Perspective Courses designed Public Law 1 8
to bring any materials they wish into the examination Property Law I 1 8
to provide theoretical and transnational
Property Law II 2 8
hall. Third, the Law School has adopted a new method perspectives on the study of law.
Company Law 2 8
of calculating the weight given to subjects offered. It is
Comparative Legal Traditions 1 4
switching from a system based on “units” to one There will be a total of eight substantive law Legal Case Studies 2 4
based on “credits”. Under the new system, students in subjects in the CCLC - three in Year One (Law of Introduction to Trial Advocacy (Pass/Fail) 1 0
the 4-year LL.B. (Honours) programme will be required Contract, Law of Torts and Criminal Law), four in Total 40
to complete a total of 160 credits, and students in the Year Two (Public Law, Company Law, Property Law
3-year LL.B. (Honours) programme (Approved I and Property Law II) and one in Year Three Year Three (with effect from 2003-04) Sem. Credits
Graduate Programme) will be required to complete (Evidence and Procedure). In addition, there will be Evidence & Procedure 1 8
Focusing on developing core legal skills of analysis,
NEW LEGAL In response to feedback from the
profession and judiciary, the Law
research, and written and oral communication, the
Legal Analysis, Writing and Research programme
SKILLS School will launch a comprehensive
Legal Analysis, Writing and Research
will complement and complete the Law School’s
already formidable offering of doctrinal subjects.
Practitioners who are alumni of NUS will be familiar
PROGRAMME Programme aimed at equipping law
students with fundamental skills and
with many elements of the skills curriculum, such as
legal method and moots, which have traditionally
been part of the core syllabus. They will also be
competencies required for effective familiar with other components, such as drafting,
negotiation, problem-solving and transaction-
service delivery in an increasingly structuring, some of which have, from time to time,
competitive legal environment. been offered as upper-level optional courses. The
new programme will draw these elements together
Eleanor Wong ’85, Director of the and will also bolster them with an emphasis on
Legal Writing Programme, explains: progressively improving the writing, research and
analytical skills of our students.11 LAWLINK
Elective Courses
Years Three and Four of the curriculum will provide students with a wide curriculum, students will no longer be required to take non-law subjects. Those
range of elective subjects. In a globalised economy, the practice of law is who choose to do so may take a maximum of 2 courses from a list approved by
becoming increasingly complex and NUS law graduates will have to the Dean. Special permission may be granted to pursue more than 2 non-law
compete against those from leading law schools in the U.S., the U.K. and subjects.
Australia. Therefore, students must have the opportunity in their third
A number of new elective law subjects are also being introduced. One of these is
and final years of Law School to choose to obtain a specialisation in
Personal Property Law. The subject has become so important to modern
specific areas such as law and technology, banking and finance,
commercial transactions that several members of the Faculty Steering Committee
investment and trade, or commercial law. At the same time, students
recommended that it be made compulsory. The Faculty decided to make it an
who do not wish to specialise should enjoy a wide choice of subjects.
elective, but expects the majority of students to read it.
As part of the reform, the Law School has also adopted a new policy with
The elective subjects are categorised under general headings so that students can
respect to non-law subjects offered to LL.B. students. In recent years,
easily identify subjects relevant to their preferred area of specialisation. A list of the
LL.B. students were required to take a minimum of 2 non-law electives
elective subjects offered in the 2002-03 academic year is as follows:
(with no maximum limit) offered by other Faculties. Under the new
TECHNOLOGY International Trade Law and Policy International And Comparative Law of Sale
Law of Intellectual Property A Trade Dispute Mechanisms Comparative Constitutional Law
Biotechnology Law Globalization and The Regulation of Introduction to Chinese Legal Tradition
Legal Issues in Electronic Commerce International Trade and Legal Chinese
Law & Policy of Space Activities The Civil Law Tradition
Law of Intellectual Property B MARITIME AND AVIATION Human Rights Law B
Biomedical Law and Ethics Carriage of Goods by Sea International Commercial Litigation
Internet Law and Policy International Maritime Law Comparative Environmental Law in
Infocommunications Law: Competition Admiralty Law and Practice Global Legal Systems
and Convergence Law of Marine Insurance Environmental Law in Singapore and Southeast Asia
Ocean Law and Policy Chinese Business Law
BANKING AND CORPORATE Aviation Law and Policy Introduction To Indonesian Law
Banking Law
Bank Documentation COMMERCIAL LEGAL PROCESS AND THEORY
Corporate Insolvency and Rescues I Personal Property Law Administration of Criminal Justice
Introduction to Tax Planning & Policy Remedies in Contract, Tort and Restitution Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Law
Credit and Security Commercial Arbitration Civil Justice & Process
International Banking Law Construction Law
Corporate Finance Law Sale of Goods LEGAL SKILLS
Securities Regulation Law of Insurance International Legal Process
Corporate Insolvency and Rescues II Principles of Restitution Negotiation
Taxation of Corporate Profits and Distributions
Mediation
International Tax Law
INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE University Research Opportunities Programme (UROP)
Public International Law
TRADE AND INVESTMENT Human Rights Law A FAMILY LAW
World Trade Law International Environmental Law and Policy Family Law
International Investment Law Principles of Conflict of Laws
For further information on the curriculum, including course descriptions, the NUS calendar, teaching schedules and examination
timetables, refer to the Law School Webpage at http://law.nus.edu.sg.
The Law School’s programme will be based on the Assignments will have to be re-written, initial legal issues will introduce students to the
American model where clinical teaching of core research inadequacies supplemented by additional complexities of real-world advocacy and transaction
legal skills occurs early on in law school, in a research and, generally, mistakes (whether of structuring. Students will be challenged to exercise
foundational course typically (though somewhat substance or format) corrected. After all, a student creativity, to take initiative, to think across subjects,
narrowly) called “Legal Writing”. Of course, the may be satisfied with receiving a mediocre grade for and generally to focus on problem-solving.
programme will be customized to take account of a poor paper, but no practitioner can afford to
Over time, the Legal Analysis, Writing and Research
the Singapore legal environment and regional legal present her client with tepid work product.
Programme also intends to develop and expand
and business cultures.
the Law School’s suite of optional advanced clinical
To achieve the programme’s objectives and
courses in areas such as negotiation skills, drafting
Taught over two years as compulsory modules for implement its pedagogy, almost all teaching will
of complex legal documents and trial practice.
first and second year law students, the programme take place in small, tutorial-sized groups in order to
will utilize hands-on practice and realistic scenario- encourage participation and optimize opportunities Nothing can substitute for experience and the
based learning as principal teaching methodologies. for one-on-one feedback. The first year modules will careful mentoring of seniors once our graduates
Students will be expected to learn by doing, rather concentrate on foundational skills such as legal enter practice. However, the Programme hopes to
than by simply receiving knowledge, and to “do” analysis and research, business and legal writing, lay a strong foundation of skills on which
regularly. Teaching methods will also encourage a and presentation and persuasion. In the second year practitioner colleagues can build. The challenges of
sense of ownership and professionalism. modules, case studies raising multiple factual and legal practice demand no less.Feature Interview
Lee Sheridan
Founding Dean of
the Law School
Lee Sheridan, circa 1960
LAWLINK : As a young legal academic LAWLINK : Were the floods at the Bukit
you came to Singapore to found the Timah campus as bad as our first
Law Department and then the Law graduates would like us to believe?
Faculty of what was later to become
the NUS. Were the challenges you Lee Sheridan: Probably. I do not know
Singapore, 1956. Lionel faced the ones you had expected? what they have told you, but there certainly
were occasions when I could not get home
Astor (‘Lee’) Sheridan Lee Sheridan: Some were expected and without wading waist-deep.
arrives, 29 years of age, to some were unexpected. Challenges which
had been anticipated included acquiring a LAWLINK : What would you say was the
become the first Professor law library quickly, recruiting lecturers and main strength of the law school and
devising suitable courses for subjects in what were you most proud of when you
of Law and Head of the which the law differed from state to state left?
Law Department of the in Singapore, the Federation of Malaya and
the Borneo territories. The unexpected Lee Sheridan: If I have to pick one: the law
University of Malaya challenges included: (1) the university not library.
in Singapore. 46 years on, having set aside any money to buy books
for the library; (2) the size of the demand LAWLINK : How were the students in
Assoc Prof Gary Bell speaks to read law, particularly from people those days?
already in employment who wanted to
to the Law School’s study part-time; (3) the process of securing Lee Sheridan: Very exciting and co-operative.
Founding Dean, now retired recognition for the LL.B from numerous I have had excellent students in all the
professional bodies and legislatures; and universities in which I have taught but none
in Wales, on the occasion of (4) the special needs of students who had better than the best in Singapore. The
been at schools in which English was not students in the early graduating classes in
the establishment of the the language of instruction. Singapore shared with their teachers the
Lee Sheridan Legal pioneering enterprise, without the help of a
LAWLINK : What is your best memory body of textbooks, of systematic, analytical
Education Fund. of these years? and critical study of Malayan and Singapore
law. I think everybody found that demanding
Lee Sheridan: The intellectual quality of and sometimes frightening.
the students and their charm and the high
classes of honours attained by the best of
them in their degree examinations.13 LAWLINK
Lee Sheridan (seated in
middle), with the
pioneer Class of 1961
LAWLINK : In many ways, the reforms in law. While correctly wanting to make a
the faculty is now undertaking seem to decent living from a career, the professional
be reforms in the original sense of the lawyer should never lose sight of the main
word - we seem to be going back to the object of the legal system, namely to secure
original model you had in mind for the justice for its customers.
faculty. We want to become more
international while keeping our local LAWLINK : The faculty has announced
scholarship strong, we want to teach the creation of an endowment fund for
broadly and comparatively, including legal education named in your honour.
systems other than the common law What do you think would be a good use
(you introduced the teaching of Malay for this money?
customary law), we want to improve our
students’ drafting abilities (you were Lee Sheridan: There could be many. Without
concerned with linguistic abilities), we up-to-date knowledge of circumstances in
have re-introduced open-book exams Singapore, if I have to select one use I should
and are looking at ways to promote choose scholarships for students at
interactive teaching (you used the undergraduate and postgraduate levels who
Socratic method). Isn’t it the best of would be deprived of the opportunity to
tributes that we are going back to the study if they did not receive that kind of
fundamentals you promoted more than financial support. However, with a permanent
Lee Sheridan in recent times
40 years ago? endowment, it is desirable to forestall the
necessity for cy-près applications by giving
Lee Sheridan: Certainly. I cannot take it in the trustees adequate powers to adapt the
any other way. I do enjoy being patted on the use of the fund to changing circumstances.
back.
LAWLINK : What would you recommend
to our young graduates that have their For an account of the Founding Dean and his career, see the article by Andrew
career ahead of them? Phang Boon Leong ‘82, Founding Father and Legal Scholar – The Life and
Lee Sheridan: With the caveat that the Work of Professor L A Sheridan [1999] Singapore Journal of Legal Studies
careers of law graduates may be infinitely 335 and Lee Sheridan’s own reflections on page 62 in the Faculty’s 40th
varied (as strikingly evidenced by Namiko
Anniversary commemorative publication, Change and Continuity – 40 Years
Chan ‘97 and Tommy Koh ‘61, for example), I
take this question to be directed to a career of the Law Faculty.ALAWMNUS Feature
Ng Yuina ’92
Karenni Camp Volunteer
Alumnus Ng Yuina ’92 shares LAWLINK : How did you get involved with LAWLINK : What are conditions like in the
the Karenni people? camp?
with LAWLINK her commitment
to helping the Karenni refugees Yuina: I first got to know about the Karenni from a Yuina: Camp life is basic. In general, there is no
previous volunteer. I had quit my job as a producer electricity nor running water - utilities we tend to
at the Thai - Burmese border. director in a video production house as I wanted to take for granted. In my school and places like the
Karenni is a small multi-ethnic do volunteer work overseas. A group of us made a clinic, there are diesel-run generators. At the
one-week trip to Karenni Camp 3 in February 2001 school, the generator goes on for about 4 hours
state located at the Thai - and I decided to return to teach in September every night, powering the fluorescent lights which
Burmese border. In recent years, 2001. I returned to Singapore in April this year and enable the students to study. The school has a
am now back in camp for another year. I’m no generous benefactor who donated a TV, a VCR and
many of its people have been
masochist, so obviously my eight months in camp loads of movie videos. Every Friday night, the
forced off their land by the were entirely rewarding. generator works harder to power Movie Night,
which is very well attended by the other people in
military junta. Nearly 20,000 The Karenni are a warm, friendly people who are
the camp. Water is drawn from wells with hand
only too aware that they have nothing and are
displaced Karennis are now living pumps. During the rainy season from May to
reliant on volunteers like myself. Their situation
in refugee camps in Thailand, October, the water supply is fine. But in the dry
makes them far more complex than the average
season, the water table gets so low that it takes a
mostly in the north-western Singaporean. For example, the students I teach are
l-o-n-g time to fill up even one average bucket.
in their late teens or early-20s. Compared to
province of Mae Hong Son. Often, the water comes out a shade of undesirable
Singaporeans of that age, they have an innocence
brown. But black buckets help to disguise the
Another 50,000 Internally and simplicity about them that reminds me of
colour of the water!
young teenagers. Yet, some of the questions they
Displaced Persons are hiding in ask and the way they tell their life stories suggest a Everyone stays in bamboo houses. These have
the jungles on the other side of much older sensibility. These aren’t your normal woven walls, split bamboo floors and leaf-roofs.
young people. They have gone through a lot. The architecture is quite an ‘open-concept’ one,
the border. Life in the refugee What struck me most about them was how, which doesn’t help when it dips below 10 degrees
camps in Thailand is basic. While despite all their suffering and loss, they have Celsius at nights during the dry season. The
managed to maintain hope. That hope is very openness also allows an amazing amount of dust
not a signatory to the 1951
important as it is the one thing that gives real to find its way inside. This is especially so during the
Refugee Convention, Thailand meaning to their lives. I certainly hope that they dry season. During the wet season, it rains
learn to manage that hope and not to let it constantly and the dust turns into mud. Mud-
has allowed the U.N. High
become too unrealistic or to allow age and skating or sliding is a favoured game among the
Commissioner for Refugees disappointment turn it into cynicism. camp’s children. It is not a skill which I have picked
(UNHCR) to register the refugees. up with much elegance.
Day-to-day needs in the camps are LAWLINK : How are you involved with the
met by various Non-Government Karenni children?
Organisations (NGOs) and Yuina: I teach at the highest level of schooling in
humanitarian agencies such as the the camps. Students from all three camps attend
this school and accommodation is provided for
Burma Border Consortium, the those from the other two camps. I teach English-
International Relief Committee language subjects like Writing, Listening,
Conversation and Drama to a total of 48 students
and the Jesuit Refugee Service. A proud day for Yuina as her students graduate divided over two classes in two standards. I can’t15 LAWLINK
really call them “children” as they are all in their LAWLINK : Has your Law School education
late-teens and early-20s. They have at least some helped in any way with your work at the
command of the English language, which helps me camp?
greatly. I communicate in simple English and when
necessary, ask the better students to translate. I Yuina: I have always been a firm believer that a
have been learning Burmese as well from one of Law School education provides more than just an
my students. This is not the politically - correct understanding of the law. For me, it was the
choice but it is practical as that is their common intangibles that counted and mattered more. The
language, something they had to learn in school ability to think and analyse, to see all sides to an
inside Karenni state. Otherwise, the different ethnic Children donning sweaters purchased with donations issue - these are things that I value.
groups have their own mother tongues which are from Singaporeans
That is not to say that the tangible things were not
quite distinct.
after their children and households. The important. I took Public International Law in my
Apart from my students, I support one of the unemployed men have little to do since they are final year (with Prof Beckman!) and that introduced
orphanages in the camp. Perhaps “support” is not traditionally farmers and now have no land to me to the workings of the United Nations and its
the right word, but I visit the children there farm. Most just idle the day away, smoking, conventions and resolutions. Indirectly, it gave me a
regularly and try to buy them useful things like drinking and visiting friends within the camp. better understanding of how the world functioned
multi-vitamins, milk powder and even children’s as a society and how politics can just plain get in
Visiting is the main recreation among camp
medicine. Sometimes I give them less useful things the way. That helped me during my journalism
residents. Sports like soccer, sepak takraw and
like sweets and toys. It really doesn’t take a lot to years and it certainly makes it easier to have a
volleyball count as well but you cannot play games
make them happy. I’m now thinking of sponsoring more accurate feel of the Karenni situation.
after dark. Visiting is not necessarily as sociable as
one of the orphans. It doesn’t cost that much, only Understanding and appreciating the whole
it may seem. Karenni people are very comfortable
a few hundred baht a month. situation, seeing where the players stand, analysing
going to a friend’s house when he is absent and
their positions - all these mean that I can probably
just making themselves right at home. Conversely,
contribute better.
when people visit you, you don’t necessarily have
to participate in the conversation that they are
having on your own front porch.
LAWLINK : How have the Karenni students
fared in their education given their adverse
circumstances?
Yuina: Education in the camp can be pretty
piecemeal. Teachers, with their different methods
and styles, come and go, especially the volunteers.
I think that has contributed to the problem. In my
school, the students’ abilities within one class can
vary from very poor to quite amazingly good. It
Yuina with her students at the camp
does make it a challenge to teach. In the end, I
pitch my lessons mid-level and seek out the poorer
students for further explanations and the better
ones for more mind-stretching.
LAWLINK wishes Yuina and her
For not a few of them, their education has been so
A mother and child at the camp
disrupted that it is hard for them to have a proper students well in their endeavours. For
LAWLINK : Can you describe a typical day at grounding in anything. Inside Karenni state, more information on Yuina’s work,
the camp? schools are often closed down with standards
sometimes stopping at just upper primary level. contact her at yuina@singnet.com.sg
Yuina: A typical day for the students starts at 8:15 The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have it even
am with school assembly. School goes on till 3:45 worse. Classes are conducted under trees by
pm, with lunch and a couple of breaks in between. whoever is able. The approach of Burmese soldiers
Classes cover the English-language subjects, Maths, means more running and less learning.
Computing (two computer sets were donated),
Still, the situation has been improving. Over the
Science and Social Studies. For students who stay in
years, I think there has been greater
the school, they have rosters for kitchen duty, wood-
standardisation in teachers’ training and also
chopping and weeding. For those who stay with
classroom resources and materials. The youths
their families in the camp, it is much the same too.
do recognise the importance of an education
After dark, they do their homework or visit friends.
and in fact, families in Karenni are known to
Most go to bed fairly early.
send their children across the border, just so that
For others in the camp, some have employment they can get a decent shot at education. Youths
with places like the schools, the clinic or the themselves have also taken the decision to leave
international NGOs and agencies as well as the their families behind in their search for greater
Karenni organisations. These, I would say, are the stability and a better environment in which
minority. Most womenfolk stay home and look to learn.ALAWMNUS Feature
Stanley Tan ’99
National Sailor
Alumnus Stanley Tan Kheng Siong ’99 is currently training full-time for
the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. Stanley holds the distinction
of being the Law School’s first and only Olympian and is pursuing his
dream of a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. LAWLINK speaks to
Stanley about laser sailing, the law and his dream.
clashed with my third-year finals in Law School. was only the start of my quest for sailing
After that, I’ll focus on the 2003 SEA Games in excellence.
Vietnam (if the lobbying for sailing to be included
In hindsight, it was the lead-up to the Games that
is successful) and the 2004 Athens Olympics,
really encapsulates my Olympic experience. The
where my goal is to finish in the top 10.
memories I have of the Olympics exist only in my
With the recent introduction of the Singapore mind and will eventually fade away; but the
Sports Council’s Athletes Career and Training lessons learned and personal breakthroughs made
Programme (ACT), I intend to continue with full- in the lead-up to the Games have been
time sailing up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. If I’m permanently burned into the core of my being.
able to get into the ACT and receive the necessary
multi-dimensional support, I would definitely take
it all the way to 2008, where I’m confident of
winning a medal with the benefit of almost 9 solid
years of full-time training and competition at the
highest levels. The satisfaction would be greater as
LAWLINK : How long have you been sailing I would also have played my role in realizing
and what is your specialty?
Challenge 2008, which was thrown up by Prime
Stanley: I started sailing in 1991 during my first Minister Goh Chok Tong to the sailing fraternity to
year at Raffles Junior College. I had been win a medal at the 2008 Olympiad.
swimming competitively at Raffles Institution but
decided to switch as I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. LAWLINK : What was it like participating in
Sailing was the natural choice - it involved a similar the 2000 Sydney Olympics?
medium and I’ve always loved the sea, growing up
Stanley: It was bitter-sweet. Scandals aside, the
(and still living) in Marine Parade. I’m thankful for
Olympic Games is truly the greatest sporting event
switching as sailing has changed my life in so many
in the universe - nothing else compares to it in
positive ways.
terms of magnitude and significance. The defining
I started sailing on a Laser, a simple, 4.2 metre long moment was the Opening Ceremony, specifically LAWLINK : What have you been doing since
fibre-glass dinghy with one sail. After 11 years, the moment when the Singapore contingent Sydney?
I’m still with it and discovering something new or marched out onto the track of Stadium Australia to
Stanley: I pupilled with M/s Harry Elias Partnership
different with each sail. This is the beauty of the roar of 110,000 spectators (and probably that
and did the PLC in 2001. During this period, I
sailing - each experience is unique. many camera flashes going off). The visual
continued training and competed in the Kuala
spectacle was amazing. Other highlights included
Lumpur Southeast Asian Games in September
LAWLINK : What are your competitive plans meeting sports stars like Ian Thorpe (believe
2001, where I defended the silver medal I won in
for the next few months and years? everything you’ve read about his feet) and staying
1997 (sailing did not feature in the Brunei Games
in the Athlete’s Village.
Stanley: I’ve been a full-time athlete since of 1999). Immediately after my Bar exams last
graduating from the Law School in 1999, with However, disappointment and reality set in after December, I resumed full-time training in Perth for
minor disruptions due to pupilage and the Practice the euphoria of competing wore off. I was the Asian Games. I then trained in Singapore,
Law Course. I’m presently preparing for the unhappy with my performance, even though I before competing overseas from June onwards.
upcoming Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, could honestly say that I had sailed my heart out
where my goal is to win a gold medal. I’m really and gave every single race my utmost. I realized Initially, I did consider deferring pupilage and the
fired up about getting selected and winning as I that much more had to be done if I wanted to PLC till after the Athens Olympics. I’m glad I
was unable to compete in the last Asiad as it achieve success at the world level. Sydney, really, didn’t do that as I now have the ‘safety net’ of myYou can also read
