BUKIT LANJAN: QC Ng - another Malaysian-born success story to emulate

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Jern-Fei Ng QC is described in the legal directories as “a formidable advocate”; “rising star”; “undoubted star junior” and “QC in waiting” with “first-class advocacy skills” who “comes up with extremely clever points” and has an ability to “present practical legal solutions that not only win you the battles, but also the war.” Increasingly acting as sole and lead counsel in a wide array of matters before courts and arbitration tribunals in different countries, in particular London, Singapore and Hong Kong. Jern-Fei was appointed to Queen’s Counsel in February 2018. Recommended as a leading practitioner by the most recent editions of The Legal 500 UK (six areas of practice), Chambers UK (three areas of practice), Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (three areas of practice), Chambers Asia (three areas of practice), and Chambers Global (three areas of practice). Eight of these recommendations are Band 1 rankings. Named by Legal Week as one of ten Stars at the Bar for 2012 for more, go to https://essexcourt.com/barrister/jern-fei-ng/

BUKIT LANJAN: QC Ng - another Malaysian-born success story to emulate

A 38-year-old Malaysian-born ethnic Chinese has been appointed a Queen’s Counsel (QC) in Britain - 15 years after going into practice.

Jern-Fei Ng had graduated with a law degree from the University of Cambridge. His primary and secondary school education was in Bahasa Malaysia-medium schools.

Ng found it extremely tough adjusting to an English-speaking environment when he started his tertiary education in Britain at the age of 17.

“His struggles and determination for success must be emulated by all Malaysians,” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff said.

He said Ng was another case of a talented Malaysian achieving excellence and success overseas.

“It’s such a loss that another talented Malaysian professional is achieving professional excellence not at home,” he added.

Twin problems – Malaysia’s brain drain is exacerbated by a languishing economy at home and as well as attractive work opportunities in countries from the UK to Taiwan. Luke Watson/Wikimedia Commons.
By Vanitha Nadaraj
MARCH 18, 2016
Even the super-rich are planning to leave Malaysia. A study shows that 26% of Malaysians who have US$30 million of investable assets are planning to migrate within the next 10 years. This is much higher than the average rate of 16% in the region. The super-rich have been “impacted hard by the challenging economic climate brought upon by the fall in global oil price and ringgit devaluation”, according to The Wealth Report 2016 by global property consultancy Knight Frank … for more, go to https://www.aseantoday.com/2016/03/malaysias-brain-drain/
WHAT’S CAUSING MALAYSIA’S ETHNIC CHINESE BRAIN DRAIN?
Almost half of Chinese have reported a strong desire to leave the country
BY TASHNY SUKUMARAN
20 MAY 2017 / UPDATED ON 7 JUL 2017
Cathy Chin left Malaysia for Australia feeling she had been treated as a “second-class citizen” because of her ethnicity. “Malaysia is a beautiful country but the politics is sickening. Religion is put first, scholarships given on religion and ethnicity,” said the registered nurse, who is ethnically Chinese. “Every country has its own political and welfare issues, Australia included, but I feel that I get more rights as a second-class citizen here in Australia. My religion and ethnicity do not come into play.” … for more, go to http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/2095012/whats-causing-malaysias-ethnic-chinese-brain-drain

Syed Razak, who is Gerakan’s nominee to contest N.37 Bukit Lanjan in the coming 14th General Election (GE14), said the federal government should conduct a thorough study why so many “brainy” Malaysians were successful professionals overseas.

“Why are they not achieving excellence and success at home? Why did they not return home to carve their career to succeed at home,” he added.

Syed Razak said quality human capital with the right talent “is the foundation for any country’s successful march forward”.

“The more of such quality human capital, the faster a country grows in socio-economic development,” he added.

Young Malaysians, especially teenagers, should read about Ng’s struggles and success, and emulate him.

The Star Online posted this news report about Ng’s successful legal profession in Britain:

"Ethnic Chinese barrister judged one of the best in Britain
WORLD
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2018
6:59 PM MYT



LONDON: Jern-Fei Ng remembers feeling discouraged in 2001 when senior barristers advised him to consider a career other than being a barrister after he graduated with a law degree from the University of Cambridge.

"Because of what I was being constantly told, there really was a time when I believed that for an ethnic Chinese like me to become a barrister was a dream I could never even begin to imagine," says the 38-year-old.

But he proved any doubters wrong.

With a 15-year track record that has seen him win some of the toughest court cases of their time, and after being on the right side of million-pound damages cases, Ng is now one of Britain's most respected barristers.

And, on Monday (March 5), he is being appointed Queen's Counsel, the highest rank that can be awarded to barristers, which puts him in the top 10% of Britain's current population of 17,000 barristers.

Queen's Counsel, which is also known as QC, dates back more than 400 years. The famous English philosopher Francis Bacon was the first to receive the honour. Other famous QCs include Michael Mansfield, Cherie Blair, and Helena Kennedy.

Achieving the rank of QC is tough enough, but Ng's journey may be considered especially hard, given that he was born in Malaysia to parents who had never even attended university. Ng, whose schooling was mainly done in the Malay language, had a tough time adjusting to an English-speaking environment at the age of 17 when he arrived in Britain.

Ng said the key ingredients to his success have been "determination, hard work, and never letting the orthodox view hold you back".

Perhaps another crucial ingredient has been the globalisation of Chinese companies in recent years, which has afforded ample opportunities for him to represent Chinese clients in court against international opponents.

"My language skills and understanding of Chinese companies' mindset allow me to better represent them," he said.

Humble and softly spoken, Ng is not at all like the outspoken barrister who attacks his opponents in court with fierce arguments and eloquent rhetoric that is the stuff of movies. Instead, he wins cases with intelligence and unsurpassed determination.

Last year, he represented a Chinese company that an Israeli company had accused of breach of contract. He said it was a tough arbitration case and one in which he fought hard and lost.

His client was ordered to pay millions of dollars in damages.

"The moment I learned the news, I was disappointed and sad," he remembers.

But that was not the end of the issue. Instead of giving up, he realised that the arbitration award hinged on an issue that was outside the scope of the arbitration tribunal's jurisdiction. He subsequently helped his client challenge the arbitration award, and won.

The case is an apt reflection of Ng's dedication, which he also extends to the rest of his life. Outside his busy work schedule, which includes constant travelling to China, Singapore, and Indonesia, he dedicates time to continue taking private Mandarin lessons and to his wife and two young children.

"My wife and I have taken a conscious decision to only speak Mandarin with our children, and help them preserve their Chinese roots and identities," he said.

"I am proud to be Chinese, and I hope my achievements will help encourage more ethnic Chinese to dream bigger and achieve their full potential." - China Daily/Asia News Network"

N.37 LET BUKIT LANJAN SOAR WITH SYED ABDUL RAZAK ALSAGOFF