Roger Tan

Datuk Roger Tan Kor Mee (simplified Chinese: 郑光明; traditional Chinese: 鄭光明; pinyin: Zhèng Guāngmíng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tēⁿ Kong-mê) is a lawyer by profession. Born on 1 October 1961 in Yong Peng, Johor, Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia Datuk

Roger Tan Kor Mee
郑光明
Roger Tan, an op-ed columnist.
Personal details
Born (1961-10-01) 1 October 1961
Yong Peng, Johor, Malaysia.
NationalityMalaysian
ParentsTan Sue Yong & Swee Mei
EducationSMI Yong Peng
Tunku Abdul Rahman University College
Queen Mary College, University of London
Gray's Inn, London
National University of Singapore
OccupationLawyer
Websitewww.rogertan.com
In this Chinese name, the family name is Tan.

Early life

Roger Tan is the sixth child and youngest son of Tan Sue Yong and Swee Mei. Sue Yong was born to a wealthy family in China sharing the same lineage of the famous Chinese poet in the Qing Dynasty, Zheng Banqiao. But like all the other first generation immigrants to Malaya, Sue Yong had to toil and sweat as a labourer.

Born and brought up in Yong Peng new village, Roger's family lived in poverty when he was young. As a little boy, Roger had to rise up early to tap rubber trees before getting ready for school. Food then was often rice or porridge with soya sauce or one or two small slices of preserved bean curds.[1]

He had his primary and secondary school education in his hometown. At Sekolah Menegah Inggeris (Secondary English School), he was also the head prefect of the school in 1978.[2] He was baptised in 1988 at Yishun Lutheran Church, Singapore.

On 23 May 2000, his father, Sue Yong went missing[3] after taking a walk.[4] The family's attempts in locating their father have touched the hearts of many Malaysians.

Education

Roger Tan received his early education at Sekolah Menengah Inggeris (Secondary English School) in his hometown, and at the Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Kuala Lumpur.[5]

He later taught for a short period at the Chung Hwa High School, Rengit, Johor before he left to read law at Queen Mary College, University of London. In July 1988, he was admitted as a barrister of the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, London. In 1989, he was admitted as an advocate and solicitor in Singapore[6] and Malaysia.[7] He also holds a Master of Laws degree from the National University of Singapore.[8]

Career

Professional

As a lawyer, he has acted for various corporations in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, and as a legal consultant to various statutory bodies and government authorities in Malaysia.

He sat in the legislative drafting committees of Johor State Government and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Local Government with regard to Water Supply Enactment 1993 of Johor, Water Supply (Successor Company) Enactment 1993 of Johor, Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) (Amendment) Act 2002 and its regulations,[9] Housing Development (Control And Licensing) (Amendment) Act 2007[10] and its regulations,[11] and the Solid Waste And Public Cleansing Management Act 2007.

The Johor Muslim orphans are indebted to him when Roger acted pro bono (free of charge) for Al-Yatama Bhd, which runs nine Muslim orphanages in Johor, and successfully recovered and repossessed 2,700 acres (11 km2) of its land in Kota Tinggi, Johor in addition to obtaining a judgment sum of RM64 million for Al-Yatama Bhd in 2004.[12]

Social

In 1988, he was one of the young lawyers selected to meet with Singapore Chief Justice, Wee Chong Jin to give their views on the establishment of Singapore Academy of Law. Roger was instrumental in founding the Waste Management Association of Malaysia[13] in 2005, having drafted its constitution and assumed office as its first Honorary Secretary. In 2008, the International Bar Association appointed him as part of an international team to evaluate the state of judiciary and the rule of law in Fiji.[14] On 10 July 2019, he was appointed to the task force set up by the Malaysian government investigating the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat. [15]

Public Service
  • President, Strata Management Tribunal
  • Board Member, Advocates & Solicitors Disciplinary Board (2013-2015) & (2017-2019)[16]
  • Head, Malaysian Bar's Evaluation Team set up by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board to assess the law degree programmes offered by universities.[17]
  • Commissioner, National Water Services Commission (SPAN). (2009-2017)[18]
  • Board Member, Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation. (2009-2015)[19]

Award

Panglima Jasa Negara, by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) XIV of Malaysia in conjunction with His Majesty's Official Birthday on 6 June 2015.[20][21] The award carries the title "Datuk".

Personal

In his early years of practice, he also taught Business Law part-time at his alma mater, TAR College. He is a very active member of the legal fraternity, having served in various positions[22] at the Malaysian Bar. He has been acknowledged[23] to have transformed the public image of the Malaysian Bar when he singlehandedly designed and managed the website of the Malaysian Bar[24] for 4 years.

He writes[25] regularly and has contributed many articles in local and foreign legal periodicals and news media.

References
  1. http://www.missingourdad.com/ourtribute.html
  2. The best place to be on earth, New Straits Times, 7 November 2007
  3. Tell your dad 'I love you' now before it's too late for that, 18 June 2006, New Sunday Times
  4. http://www.missingourdad.com
  5. At TAR College, he became the first elected student representative of its School of Pre-U Studies (http://www.ua3b.com Archived 10 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine) in 1980, the year when student elections were first held, by obtaining more than 80% of the votes cast.
  6. His pupil master was Senior Counsel Harry Elias of Harry Elias and Company. He is also a member of Singapore Academy of Law, and associate member of the Law Society of Singapore.
  7. His pupil master was Michael Lim Hee Kiang of Shearn Delamore and Company, Kuala Lumpur
  8. He is also a Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths.
  9. Making of the Housing Development Act
  10. Three Bills a boon for home buyers
  11. Q & A on amended housing law
  12. Charity firm recovers land in law suit
  13. http://www.wmam.org
  14. Rule of law in Fiji in dire straits
  15. Two more people appointed to Pastor Koh, Amri task force
  16. http://www.asdb.org.my
  17. http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/bar_news/berita_badan_peguam/the_bars_evaluation_team_re_visits_uum_and_mmu.html
  18. http://www.span.gov.my
  19. http://www.swcorp.gov.my/
  20. http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/06/Honour-list-Agong-2015/
  21. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
  22. Deputy Chair of IT & Cyberlaws Committee; Chairman of the Conveyancing Practice Committee, Chairman of the SRO Enforcement Committee, Organising Chairman of the 14th Malaysian Law Conference, Chairman of the National Young Lawyers Committee, Chairman of Environmental Law Sub-Committee and Malaysian Bar Webmaster.
  23. Malaysian Bar Website
  24. http://www.malaysianbar.org.my
  25. http://www.rtkm.com
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