Across Continents, One Community: The Inner Temple in Malaysia and Singapore

The Inner Temple has maintained warm relationships with its members and the wider legal communities in Malaysia and Singapore for many years. These connections are steeped in history, with archival records showing that some of the earliest women admitted to the Inn in the 1920s were Chinese students from the then Straits Settlements, British North Borneo and Sarawak.

Formal links with Malaysia were cemented in 2006, when Master Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, as Treasurer, and the late Master Patrick Maddams, as Sub-Treasurer, visited Kuala Lumpur to inaugurate the Malaysia Inner Temple Alumni Association (MITAA). This initiative had been inspired by the late Master Abdul Malek, a Court of Appeal Judge who was called to the Bar in 1965 and was determined to create a forum for Malaysian Inner Templars to remain connected with the Inn.

Since then, successive Treasurers and Sub-Treasurers have travelled to Malaysia almost annually (except during the pandemic) for programmes organised in partnership with MITAA. These visits have helped maintain strong engagement with our 485 members currently residing in Malaysia (with a total of 1,056 worldwide); raised the Inn’s profile within local legal circles – including universities, the judiciary, the Bar and government departments; and fostered close ties with the Royal Household of Negeri Sembilan, in particular. MITAA, now under the continuing leadership of Master Faizah Jamaludin, a Judge of the Court of Appeal, remains the Inn’s most active overseas alumni association, with around 100 members. Other distinguished Benchers include Masters Tunku Ali and James Foong.

Our relationship with Singapore has also flourished in recent years. The first formal visit by a Treasurer in recent memory was made by Master Jonathan Hirst in 2012. Since then, the Inn has maintained a regular presence, including by contributing to litigation conferences and workshops organised by the Law Society of Singapore; a performance by the Temple Church boys’ choir in 2016; and a sculpture installation – Angles of Incidence – transferred from the Singapore Botanic Gardens and hosted in the Inn’s Garden in 2014. These visits have included educational and social events with the Supreme Court, the Singapore Academy of Law and others.

In 2017, Master Pittaway’s visit as Treasurer marked another milestone, with the establishment of the Singapore Inner Temple Members Association (SITMA), since led by Master Lawrence Teh, Senior Partner and Global Co-Head of International Arbitration at Dentons Rodyk LLP. SITMA provides a platform for local networking, professional development and engagement with the Inn. We currently have 140 members residing in Singapore (241 worldwide) and around 30 are active members of SITMA. Among our distinguished Benchers is Master Sundaresh Menon, Chief Justice of Singapore, and we have strong ties with Lisa Sam, President of the Law Society of Singapore.

Master Treasurer’s recent visit to Malaysia and Singapore in Spring 2025, accompanied by the Sub-Treasurer, was a highlight of the year, reaffirming the Inn’s international connections and its commitment to meaningful legal exchange. It followed hot on the heels of a visit by Master Michael Soole as Treasurer in autumn 2024, with a complementary programme.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, Master Treasurer’s programme was (again) expertly co-ordinated by Master Jamaludin and included a keynote address by him at the Securities Commission on Regulating Cryptocurrencies and Digital Assets: Current Issues and Emerging Trends. The event drew a large audience of legal and regulatory professionals and featured further contributions from senior figures at the Securities Commission and the Central Bank of Malaysia. The topic was particularly timely, given active national debates on how best to regulate virtual assets. In a spirit of camaraderie and exchange, an Inner Temple dinner was hosted for key stakeholders and speakers following the event, reinforcing professional bonds and friendships.

The Treasurer also visited the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, where he was briefed on the workings of the Court and the Registry for Sexual Offences Against Children; observed a Court of Appeal hearing on employment laws; toured the Judicial Museum; and was welcomed into Master Jamaludin’s chambers.

Engagement with the future generation of legal minds was also a key focus. A tea party provided an opportunity for informal engagement with law students, pupils and junior MITAA members.

Another memorable moment was an audience with Master Tunku Ali, Senior Prince of Negeri Sembilan, at the Istana Negeri Sembilan in Kuala Lumpur, which concluded with tea with Master Ali and his father, His Royal Highness the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan.

The visit concluded with a splendid dinner for MITAA members, hosted by Ariff Rozhan and attended by His Excellency Ajay Sharma, the newly appointed British High Commissioner. The visit occurred against the backdrop of significant developments in Malaysia’s judiciary, including debate over judicial appointments and concerns about judicial independence. These broader legal and constitutional discussions served to underscore the importance of professional dialogue and institutional integrity – values shared across our jurisdictions.

Singapore

The Singapore leg of the visit was anchored by the Treasurer’s participation in the Singapore Litigation Conference Workshop, at the invitation of Master Teh. Organised by the Law Society, the workshop focused on AI and ethics, and the Treasurer’s Opening Address was delivered to a large audience just before the keynote by Supreme Court Justice Valerie Thean. A closing panel allowed the Treasurer to reflect on the ethical challenges emerging from the integration of AI into legal practice.

Engagements in Singapore included a dinner for Litigation Conference speakers, a SITMA dinner and a high-level briefing with British High Commissioner His Excellency Nik Mehta. During the briefing, concern was noted over the perceived decline in UK-Singapore judicial relations – something Master Menon is reportedly eager to address. A reduction in the number of approved UK law schools by the Singaporean government was raised, prompting discussion on the importance of ensuring accurate understanding of legal education standards.

The programme also included a productive lunch with the board of the Singapore branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, where Master Treasurer contributed his expertise in arbitration to discussions around the conduct of counsel in arbitration proceedings and professional obligations and standards in international disputes.

A key outcome of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Inn and the Law Society of Singapore, thanks to the support of their President, Lisa Sam. This lays the foundation for initiatives such as a pilot Affiliate Scheme (enabling Singaporean lawyers to engage with selected Inn events and facilities) and a bilateral Pegasus Trust placement programme. These developments were warmly welcomed and represent an exciting new phase of collaboration. We look forward to welcoming a delegation from the Singapore Law Society to The Inner Temple towards the end of 2026.

Lasting a full five working days in total, this visit was a powerful testament to the Inn’s global reach and the value of its overseas alumni networks. We are immensely grateful for the generous hospitality and thoughtful organisation by our members in both jurisdictions.

Special thanks go to Master Faizah Jamaludin and Master Lawrence Teh, whose tireless leadership continues to ensure that the spirit of the Inn thrives in Malaysia and Singapore. Their efforts are central to our ongoing engagement with the region and the professional development of members at all stages of their careers.

Looking Forward

2026 will mark MITAA’s 20th anniversary, which we hope to celebrate with special events both in Malaysia and at the Inn. We also look forward to welcoming new Singaporean affiliates to the Inn and continuing to build on this foundation of fellowship, excellence and mutual respect.

Jennie Collis Price
Head of the Sub-Treasurer’s Office