Roger Tan Kor Mee
Encyclopedia
Roger Tan Kor Mee is a lawyer by profession. Born on 1 October 1961 in Yong Peng
, Johor, Malaysia, he received his early education at Sekolah Menengah Inggeris (Secondary English School) in his hometown, and at the Tunku Abdul Rahman College
in Kuala Lumpur
. 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
and Malaysia. He also holds a Master of Laws degree from the National University of Singapore
.
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.
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. He was baptised in 1988 at Yishun
Lutheran Church, Singapore.
On 23 May 2000, his father, Sue Yong went missing after taking a walk. The family's attempts in locating their father have touched the hearts of many Malaysians.
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, Housing Development (Control And Licensing) (Amendment) Act 2007 and its regulations, 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 2700 acres (10.9 km²) of its land in Kota Tinggi, Johor in addition to obtaining a judgment sum of RM64 million for Al-Yatama Bhd in 2004.
, 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 in 2005, having drafted its constitution and assumed office as its first Honorary Secretary. In 2008, he was appointed by the Malaysian Chinese Association
as part of a three-man panel to investigate allegations of a 'snoop squad' against its top party officials. In the same year, the International Bar Association
also appointed him as part of an international team to evaluate the state of judiciary and the rule of law in Fiji
.
. He is a very active member of the legal fraternity, having served in various positions at the Malaysian Bar
. He has been acknowledged to have transformed the public image of the Malaysian Bar when he singlehandedly designed and managed the website of the Malaysian Bar for 4 years. In his tribute to Roger, lawyer Fahri Azzat wrote:
He writes regularly and has contributed many articles in local and foreign legal periodicals and news media.
Yong Peng
Yong Peng is a regional town in Malaysia in the state of Johor. It has an area of 1911.6 hectares with an estimated population of 29,046. Yong Peng has two main interchanges on North-South Expressway including north to Kuala Lumpur and south to Johor Bahru....
, Johor, Malaysia, he received his early education at Sekolah Menengah Inggeris (Secondary English School) in his hometown, and at the Tunku Abdul Rahman College
Tunku Abdul Rahman College
Tunku Abdul Rahman College, often known as TARC or KTAR, is a public institution of higher learning in Malaysia. It has six campuses located in six states across Malaysia. While having close links to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman , the college and the university are separate entities...
in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. 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
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. In July 1988, he was admitted as a barrister of the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1989, he was admitted as an advocate and solicitor in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Malaysia. He also holds a Master of Laws degree from the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
.
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
Yong Peng
Yong Peng is a regional town in Malaysia in the state of Johor. It has an area of 1911.6 hectares with an estimated population of 29,046. Yong Peng has two main interchanges on North-South Expressway including north to Kuala Lumpur and south to Johor Bahru....
, 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.
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. He was baptised in 1988 at Yishun
Yishun
Yishun, or Nee Soon as it was initially named, is a suburban town in the northern part of Singapore, encompassing the Yishun Planning Area, in the North Region, which includes Yishun New Town and the Nee Soon private residential estate....
Lutheran Church, Singapore.
On 23 May 2000, his father, Sue Yong went missing after taking a walk. The family's attempts in locating their father have touched the hearts of many Malaysians.
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, Housing Development (Control And Licensing) (Amendment) Act 2007 and its regulations, 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 2700 acres (10.9 km²) of its land in Kota Tinggi, Johor in addition to obtaining a judgment sum of RM64 million for Al-Yatama Bhd in 2004.
Social
In 1988, he was one of the young lawyers selected to meet with Singapore Chief JusticeChief Justice of Singapore
The Chief Justice of Singapore is the highest post in the judicial system of Singapore. The Chief Justice is appointed by the President, chosen from candidates recommended by the Prime Minister. The present Chief Justice is Chan Sek Keong....
, Wee Chong Jin
Wee Chong Jin
Wee Chong Jin was born in Penang to parents Wee Gim Puay and Lim Paik Yew. He received his early education at the Penang Free School, and read law at St John's College, Cambridge...
to give their views on the establishment of Singapore Academy of Law. Roger was instrumental in founding the Waste Management Association of Malaysia in 2005, having drafted its constitution and assumed office as its first Honorary Secretary. In 2008, he was appointed by the Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
as part of a three-man panel to investigate allegations of a 'snoop squad' against its top party officials. In the same year, the International Bar Association
International Bar Association
The International Bar Association is an international association of lawyers and lawyers' associations. The IBA's stated purpose is to promote an exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their...
also appointed him as part of an international team to evaluate the state of judiciary and the rule of law in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
.
Public Service
- Board Member, Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation.
- Commissioner, National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
- Chairman, Dispute Resolution Committee of the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), set up under section 71 of the Water Services Industry Act 2006.
Personal
In his early years of practice, he also taught Business Law part-time at his alma mater, TAR CollegeTunku Abdul Rahman College
Tunku Abdul Rahman College, often known as TARC or KTAR, is a public institution of higher learning in Malaysia. It has six campuses located in six states across Malaysia. While having close links to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman , the college and the university are separate entities...
. He is a very active member of the legal fraternity, having served in various positions at the Malaysian Bar
Malaysian Bar
The Malaysian Bar is a professional body which regulates the profession of lawyers in peninsular Malaysia. In Malaysia, there is no distinction between a barrister and a solicitor, in that, it is a fused profession. Membership into the bar is automatic and mandatory. The bar was created under the...
. He has been acknowledged to have transformed the public image of the Malaysian Bar when he singlehandedly designed and managed the website of the Malaysian Bar for 4 years. In his tribute to Roger, lawyer Fahri Azzat wrote:
He writes regularly and has contributed many articles in local and foreign legal periodicals and news media.