May it please Your Ladyship,
Fahri Azzat for the Petitioner, Iqbal Harith Liang bin Danial Liang.
My Lady, the Petitioner’s parents Madam Umi Kalthum and Mr Danial Liang are present this morning.
The Petitioner applied to me for a pupilage position in June last year. He submitted an impressive resume. The cover letter spoke of intellect, character and temperament that resonated with our firm’s values and qualities.
I wanted very much to take him on but I didn’t. Due to the great economic and social uncertainty at the time, I declined him. This is what I wrote:
If this were any other year, I would offer you a position immediately. Your resume, cover letter, references and recommendation letters certainly indicate that you have the qualities and attitude that I appreciate and are someone I would like to work with.
I declined him with much regret and hoped our paths would cross again. The moment I saw a ray of light at the end of 2020’s tunnel in August, I offered him a position. But as expected he was already taken. He was doing his pupilage in the chambers of Messrs Steven Thiru & Sudhar Partnership under the guidance of Mr Steven Thiru, his Master.
I thought that was the last I had seen of the Petitioner. But My Lady, I think, in life as in love unlike law, if it was meant to happen, it was going to happen. And so, it was to my delight that just a year after my belated offer to him, out of the blue, he wrote to me for the position of paralegal. There was no hesitation this time, I took him on immediately. He started as a paralegal with me in September.
The Petitioner sits in my room on a separate table 8 feet from me. Having savoured the pleasure and privilege of his company daily these last 7 weeks, I can say with all confidence the Petitioner is a fit and proper person to be called to the Bar. It is both my privilege and pleasure to move his call. I could spend the morning explaining why to My Lady, but since we have a long list this morning, I shall limit myself to just three qualities, my Lady.
The first is his intellect for the law. The Petitioner is one of those blessed with what I call a natural legal mind. It is a mind that is naturally attuned to the requirements of legal thought, easily navigates the byways and main thoroughfares of the law and is constantly curious about the diverse facets of the law. Such a mind can slice through its ignorance of an area of law like a hot knife on butter and get up to speed on it quickly.
For the last few weeks, he’s been working on a Federal Court leave application submission about a fine point of law about a stay of proceedings pending arbitration where I have seen these qualities displayed. He appreciates arguments, legal texts and judgments like gemologists appreciate gemstones, researches like a hunter on steroids, and writes like a dramatist in Malay.
And it is not just me that says this. The former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri David Wong Dak Wah, wrote him a recommendation which concludes with these two paragraphs:
“I am confident Iqbal will be a great fit for your firm. Not only will he bring the type of skills and attitude that you are looking for in a pupil, he is a diligent and intelligent young man. He projects a pleasant demeanor and displays genuineness in dealing with others.”
“If you need more information or specific examples, please do not hesitate to contact me via my email – [ ]. I would be happy to further elaborate on his time working under my supervision.”
That last part is telling My Lady. Tan Sri is saying, I would be happy to reminisce about my time with him with you. And don’t hesitate to get in touch about it!
The second is his industry. These days, many people that come to the bar are so active and accomplished before they even begin pupilage. The Petitioner is one of those.
He was a Yayasan Khazanah Watan Scholar when he read law at University Malaya from 2016 – 2020. During that time, his resume read like the receipt of a legal kid’s purchase in a legal candy store.
He joined the UM Law Society in 2016, served in various capacities and served as its president in his third year. He was active in the mooting scene throughout university, both as a successful contestant, and passionate coach and mentor to the teams after him. He was an intern with the National Human Rights Society (HAKAM) in March 2019 and founded HAKAM Youth in July 2019; a student committee member of Persatuan Alumni Rumpun Fakulti Undang-Undang UM; served as a judicial clerk in the Federal Court’s research unit, which is how Tan Sri Wong came to know him. The Petitioner was a regular contributor to the UM Law Review, publishing an average of two essays a year.
During his time with me, I have had the pleasure of enjoying that same passion and drive the Petitioner brings to the legal work I assign to him. I am happy to see him take the initiative to get himself involved with my other lawyers and their work. The Petitioner is not one to limit himself within his assigned remit but is constantly wandering beyond it. Only those truly interested in the law and its practice do this.
The third is his intentions. When the Petitioner wrote to me for the paralegal position he wrote the following:
“I understand that this trying period has discouraged firms from expanding their teams. In this regard, I wish to assure you that my priority is not financial remuneration, but rather, exposure and mentorship. I relish the chance to learn from you, primarily due to your involvement in public interest files (both criminal or civil).”
The Petitioner is in it for the law and walks the talk. Since day one of joining us at the firm, he has shown he really is interested in exposure, mentorship and opportunities to test and develop his legal abilities. We sit in the same room most days and it does not feel like we work together. It feels more like a hangout with a legal nerd friend and I just happen to be the older of the two. Most of our conversations have revolved around legal issues, news, arguments and locally decided cases (with the occasional deep personal conversation here and there).
The Petitioner’s intentions towards the practice of law are a good one – he loves it, he is good at it and he wants to do it some more, a lot more and practice at higher levels. In the short time, I have worked with him I can attest to that and am looking forward to watching him grow and develop in the time we have together.
I submit the Petitioner has the requisite good character to be a fit and proper person to be called to the Bar. He is intelligent, industrious and has the right intentions. Tan Sri David Wong and I are available for further and better particulars should My Lady require them.
I will conclude with a round of thanks by the Petitioner.
He is thoroughly grateful to his parents – Mr Danial Liang and Mdm Umi Kalthum, whose unwavering love and selfless sacrifice have inspired him to reach for the milestones in his life. All that he is, and hopes to be, he owes to his parents. The Petitioner thanks his elder brother – Ian Hannibal Liang, whose sheer diligence and industry as an advocate of the Bar is most inspirational. For the record, Ian Hannibal Liang does not like human liver with fava beans and a bottle of Chianti.
The Petitioner thanks Mr Steven Thiru, and all the Partners of STSP, he is grateful for all the wisdom and knowledge they imparted. The same goes to the Associates and Staff of STSP – always generous with their guidance and friendship. The Petitioner is grateful to his pupil mates – Sahira, Priscilla, Sabrina, and Joanne, for all the laughter and joy shared in the Core. Thanks also to Ananthan Moorthi – his brother at law and buddy in arms, for his support and encouragement throughout pupillage.
Thanks to his closest friends Muhaimin, Corina, Yee Lin, Hazeeq, Zarif, Kai Sheng, and Faiq for all the pleasant memories shared, and for always being there for him in the highs and lows of life.
The Petitioner is grateful to his significant other – Durra Azlyana, whose care and devotion motivated him through the late nights and long hours of legal practice. Her loving presence is his motivation to excel in his daily endeavours. The Petitioner is grateful to the late Natika Rosman, who inspired him to take up the vocation of law.
I believe the Petitioner’s cause papers are in order. I trust my learned friends’ have no objection to the Petitioner’s petition.
I pray the Petitioner to be admitted and enrolled as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.
Called on 22.10.2021
