CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT ATTENDS THE 39TH ASEAN LAW ASSOCIATION GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETING IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Brunei Darussalam – PR, Saturday, 25 March 2017

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Prof. Dr. M. Hatta Ali, S.H., M.H., accompanied by Vice Chairman of ALA Indonesia Djaenal Sidik Suraputra, General Secretary of ALA Indonesia Swandy Halim, and Delegation of Indonesia Normin Soaloon Pakpahan attended the 39th ASEAN Law Association (ALA) Governing Council Meeting held in Brunei Darussalam. This meeting was participated by Delegations of ASEAN Member States, including Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam, and Philippines.

The event was preceded by reading a prayer and all participants singing ALA Anthem, followed by an opening speech by ALA President, the Hon. Atty. Avelino V. Cruz and continued with remarks from all delegations.In his speech, the Hon. Hatta Ali expected that the meeting would accelerate the harmonization of laws and judicial cooperation among the ASEAN member states in order to support the ASEAN economic integration. The Hon. Hatta Ali also addressed that Indonesia looks forward to seeing an improvement over ALA’s profile in ASEAN level or moreover to demonstrate the existence of ALA which can bring benefits and significant impact for the development of law in ASEAN region.

The 39th ALA Governing Council Meeting emphasized concrete measures of ALA to engage more decision makers in judicial aspect within its members and strengthened cooperation with ASEAN Senior Law Officilas Meeting (ASLOM). The commemorative session of ALA to mark the ASEAN’s 50th anniversary in Manila on October 2017 and and the 2018 General Assembly of ALA in Singapore were also discussed in this event.

Swandi Halim, the Secretary-General of ALA Indonesia, expected every meeting of ALA would strengthen cooperation and partnership between legal practicioners in ASEAN member states because it could be a significant provision for laws harmonization and judicial cooperation in the ASEAN region.

Before these series of ALA meeting, the 14th ALA Golf Tournament had been held, which was located in the Empire Hotel and Golf Country Club. The Indonesian delegation lifted trophies for Best Net Category by Nursyam, S.H., from Banda Aceh District Court and Best Gross Category by Nandang Sunandar, S.H., M.H., from Cibinong District Court. (RM/AFF/Azh/Andhi/PR)