5 3rd Annual Event in Brunei Darussalam
3rd Annual Event in Brunei Darussalam
Third Annual Event of The Attorney General's Chambers
23-27 April 2008
The 3 rd Annual Event of the Attorney General’s Chambers of Brunei Darussalam,
Malaysia and Singapore was held at the Empire Hotel Country Club, Bandar Seri
Begawan, Brunei Darussalam from 23 to 27 April 2008. About 170 participants
attended the Event comprising 50 from Malaysia, 37 from Singapore and 83 from the
host country, Brunei Darussalam.
The Event commenced with a reception and live performances at the Pantai Restaurant
in the evening of 23 April 2008.
Four topics on areas of common interest were chosen for the Event. On the first day of
the Event (24 April 2008), selected speakers from each country presented the papers
according to assigned topics. The first session began with the topic on “ASEAN
Charter”. The session was chaired by the Honourable Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji
Kifrawi bin Dato Paduka Haji Kifli (Attorney General, Brunei Darussalam). The
papers were presented by Prof. Walter Woon Cheong Ming (Attorney General,
Singapore), Datin Almalena Sharmila Johan (Deputy Head 1, International Affairs
Division, AGC Malaysia), and Hajah Norhashimah Haji Mohd Taib (Head of
International Affairs Division, AGC Brunei Darussalam).
The second session for the day was on the topic of “Is Legislation Always the
Answer?”. It was chaired by Datin Paduka Magdalene Chong, Solicitor General,
Brunei Darussalam. The speakers were Mr. John Brian Wilkinson (Head of Legislative
Division, AGC Brunei Darussalam), Dato’ Engku Nor Faizah binti Engku Atek
(Deputy Parliamentary Draftsman, AGC Malaysia) and Mr. David Chong Gek Sian
(Principal Senior State Counsel, Civil Division, AGC Singapore).
At a free paper session 1, Mr Jeffery Chan Wah Teck, Principal Senior State Counsel,
International Affairs Division, AGC Singapore presented a paper entitled “Emerging
Challenges in International Humanitarian Law” and the session was also chaired
by Datin Paduka Magdalene Chong.
The third and last session for the day was on “Current Trends in Sentencing” which
was chaired by Prof. Walter Woon Cheong Ming. The speakers were Hj. Mohd Yusree
Hj Junaidi (Principal Counsel and Head of Criminal Justice Division, AGC Brunei
Darussalam), Mr. Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria (Deputy Head, Prosecution Division,
AGC Malaysia) and Mr. Mohamed Faizal s/o Md Abdul Kadir (DPP, Criminal Justice
Division, AGC Singapore).
The fourth session took place on the second day (25 April 2008) focusing on
information technology particularly on Internet and its infrastructures. The session was
chaired by the Assistant Solicitor General of Brunei Darussalam, Pg Hajah Zabaidah
Pg Haji Kamaludin. The topic “Freedom of Expression” was chosen and the speakers
were Mr. Ahmad Jefri Abd Rahman (Senior Counsel, Civil Division & Head of the IT
Unit, AGC Brunei Darussalam), Ms. Normazli Abdul Rahim (Head of ICT Unit, AGC
Malaysia) and Mr. Chong Kah Wei (State Counsel, LRRD, AGC Singapore).
At another slot of free session, two speakers, Dk Siti Nurbani Pg Dato Paduka Tengah
(Senior Counsel, IAD, AGC Brunei Darussalam) and Mr Pretam Singh a/l Darshan
Singh (Head of Execution & Enforcement Unit, Civil Division, AGC Malaysia)
presented on “Environmental Law” and “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments and
Orders in the Domestic Civil Courts” respectively. The session was chaired by the
Honourable Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Attorney General of Malaysia.
The second day of the Event ended with an official dinner at the Polo Restaurant,
Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club. While dining, participants were entertained by a
live band and mesmerized by karaoke performances by officers of the three AGCs.
The official ceremony took place on the third day (26 April 2008). The opening
remarks were made by the Honourable Attorney General of Brunei Darussalam. This
was followed by the opening speech by His Royal Highness Prince Al-Muhtadee
Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown
Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office.
In his opening speech His Royal Highness called for specialization in key areas of law
and continuous training to address challenges in human resource development and
provide quality advice for the government. As lawyers face the same challenges in
human resource development as other professionals, it is crucial for them to keep
abreast with developments in this field. His Royal Highness remarked that a common
legal foundation among the three countries presents unique opportunities to address
concerns in assisting governments to develop legal systems that meet people’s needs.
His Royal Highness also reiterated that the strengths in cooperation and mutual
understanding in legal issues will become more relevant in working together to solve
legal issues in regional and international arena particularly with an increasing number
of cross border issues due to forces of globalization.
The Event concluded with the Farewell Dinner. Participants were again entertained by
a live band and performances by officers of the three AGCs.
Networking games were held on 24 April 2008. Other games whereby participants
took part in were golf, badminton and bowling.
A visit to the courts was also arranged.
The next Event will be held in 2009 in Singapore.
Third Annual Event of The Attorney General's Chambers
23-27 April 2008
The 3 rd Annual Event of the Attorney General’s Chambers of Brunei Darussalam,
Malaysia and Singapore was held at the Empire Hotel Country Club, Bandar Seri
Begawan, Brunei Darussalam from 23 to 27 April 2008. About 170 participants
attended the Event comprising 50 from Malaysia, 37 from Singapore and 83 from the
host country, Brunei Darussalam.
The Event commenced with a reception and live performances at the Pantai Restaurant
in the evening of 23 April 2008.
Four topics on areas of common interest were chosen for the Event. On the first day of
the Event (24 April 2008), selected speakers from each country presented the papers
according to assigned topics. The first session began with the topic on “ASEAN
Charter”. The session was chaired by the Honourable Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji
Kifrawi bin Dato Paduka Haji Kifli (Attorney General, Brunei Darussalam). The
papers were presented by Prof. Walter Woon Cheong Ming (Attorney General,
Singapore), Datin Almalena Sharmila Johan (Deputy Head 1, International Affairs
Division, AGC Malaysia), and Hajah Norhashimah Haji Mohd Taib (Head of
International Affairs Division, AGC Brunei Darussalam).
The second session for the day was on the topic of “Is Legislation Always the
Answer?”. It was chaired by Datin Paduka Magdalene Chong, Solicitor General,
Brunei Darussalam. The speakers were Mr. John Brian Wilkinson (Head of Legislative
Division, AGC Brunei Darussalam), Dato’ Engku Nor Faizah binti Engku Atek
(Deputy Parliamentary Draftsman, AGC Malaysia) and Mr. David Chong Gek Sian
(Principal Senior State Counsel, Civil Division, AGC Singapore).
At a free paper session 1, Mr Jeffery Chan Wah Teck, Principal Senior State Counsel,
International Affairs Division, AGC Singapore presented a paper entitled “Emerging
Challenges in International Humanitarian Law” and the session was also chaired
by Datin Paduka Magdalene Chong.
The third and last session for the day was on “Current Trends in Sentencing” which
was chaired by Prof. Walter Woon Cheong Ming. The speakers were Hj. Mohd Yusree
Hj Junaidi (Principal Counsel and Head of Criminal Justice Division, AGC Brunei
Darussalam), Mr. Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria (Deputy Head, Prosecution Division,
AGC Malaysia) and Mr. Mohamed Faizal s/o Md Abdul Kadir (DPP, Criminal Justice
Division, AGC Singapore).
The fourth session took place on the second day (25 April 2008) focusing on
information technology particularly on Internet and its infrastructures. The session was
chaired by the Assistant Solicitor General of Brunei Darussalam, Pg Hajah Zabaidah
Pg Haji Kamaludin. The topic “Freedom of Expression” was chosen and the speakers
were Mr. Ahmad Jefri Abd Rahman (Senior Counsel, Civil Division & Head of the IT
Unit, AGC Brunei Darussalam), Ms. Normazli Abdul Rahim (Head of ICT Unit, AGC
Malaysia) and Mr. Chong Kah Wei (State Counsel, LRRD, AGC Singapore).
At another slot of free session, two speakers, Dk Siti Nurbani Pg Dato Paduka Tengah
(Senior Counsel, IAD, AGC Brunei Darussalam) and Mr Pretam Singh a/l Darshan
Singh (Head of Execution & Enforcement Unit, Civil Division, AGC Malaysia)
presented on “Environmental Law” and “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments and
Orders in the Domestic Civil Courts” respectively. The session was chaired by the
Honourable Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Attorney General of Malaysia.
The second day of the Event ended with an official dinner at the Polo Restaurant,
Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club. While dining, participants were entertained by a
live band and mesmerized by karaoke performances by officers of the three AGCs.
The official ceremony took place on the third day (26 April 2008). The opening
remarks were made by the Honourable Attorney General of Brunei Darussalam. This
was followed by the opening speech by His Royal Highness Prince Al-Muhtadee
Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown
Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office.
In his opening speech His Royal Highness called for specialization in key areas of law
and continuous training to address challenges in human resource development and
provide quality advice for the government. As lawyers face the same challenges in
human resource development as other professionals, it is crucial for them to keep
abreast with developments in this field. His Royal Highness remarked that a common
legal foundation among the three countries presents unique opportunities to address
concerns in assisting governments to develop legal systems that meet people’s needs.
His Royal Highness also reiterated that the strengths in cooperation and mutual
understanding in legal issues will become more relevant in working together to solve
legal issues in regional and international arena particularly with an increasing number
of cross border issues due to forces of globalization.
The Event concluded with the Farewell Dinner. Participants were again entertained by
a live band and performances by officers of the three AGCs.
Networking games were held on 24 April 2008. Other games whereby participants
took part in were golf, badminton and bowling.
A visit to the courts was also arranged.
The next Event will be held in 2009 in Singapore.