By Asmahanim Amir
Pix Izwan Azman

PUTRAJAYA, July 15, 2016 – Malaysian young lawyers need to master the skill of making good arguments in English to enhance their advocacy skills said Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tun Dato’ Seri Ariffin Zakaria.

He said many lawyers can speak English eloquently, but is poor in making arguments with good submissions.

“The quality of advocacy skills needs to be streamlined. That responsibility is not only shouldered by lecturers, but all the stakeholders including the judiciary,” he said while delivering his speech at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia Office (PKPMP) and the National University of Malaysia (UKM) here, today.

He said the MoU focuses on seven scopes of cooperation between PKPKM and UKM. These includes the rights of access to publishing, the implementation of the judicial clerkship programme, research facilities, student and academic placement, student and academic staff internship programme, supplementary reports, academic mentoring activities, courses and conferences and utilization of facilities such as reference materials for research purposes.

“I hope the MoU is not only focused in increasing student skills, but at the same time can strengthen bonds between academician and judges,” he said.

Tun Ariffin said the MoU is a good initiative in the effort to enhance the quality of legal education in Malaysia.

“I hope that these efforts will successfully achieve its objectives. The Judiciary Body is fully committed in increasing the quality of law education in Malaysia and welcome others who wish to collaborate to achieve this aim,” he said.

Meanwhile, UKM Vice Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali said UKM and Federal Court intend to hold many cooperation in the field of education, researches, consultation, development and promotion of legal expertise.

“Some activities planned include the sharing of expertise, consultancy, publications and resources, collaboration in research activities, programmes on discourse of knowledge, exchange of students, sabbatical placement for academics and the usage of library facilities for the Court’s officers and UKM academic staff,” he said.

He also said, following an idea mooted by the Chief of Justice, the Faculty of Law is planning to establish an Inn of Courts.

Prof Noor Azlan also hopes that the cooperation will be able to contribute to the mission of UKM to improve the quality of students and academic staff as well as to increase the level of skills and experts of law in Malaysia.