Hur Shiaw, Wong | Wallace

A 47-year-old father of two adorable kids and (hopefully) a wonderful husband to my wife. Recently have moved to Canberra in December 2023 on a 491 Migrant Visa.

Born in Malaysia, a vibrant convergence of race, culture, social values, and cuisine, I was immersed in a diverse and dynamic environment from an early age. Malaysia, with its unique legal frameworks - Shariah law for Muslims and civil law for non-Muslims - offered a rich tapestry of legal and social intricacies. As a former British colony, Malaysia inherited many features from the British legal system, much like Australia, including a federal constitution and enduring legal tenets that have shaped the nation's governance and societal structure.

Growing up and later practicing law in this multifaceted environment has been humbling but enriching. The competitive and sensitive landscape of Malaysian society has honed my ability to navigate complex legal and social issues with adaptability, resilience, and a deep appreciation for fair treatment. My ability to speak and write English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Malay fluently gave me an edge in communication and reaching consensus between different parties.

Throughout my career, I've cultivated a unique blend of traits and experiences that drive my insatiable curiosity and desire to impact society's well-being. My experience in the legal industry over the past 21 years, especially in high-pressure litigation, has sharpened my analytical skills, critical thinking, and resilience in the face of mounting pressure.

Embracing challenges, new learning curve and feedback as opportunities for growth, I hope to continually evolve and make a positive impact on the world around me.

• Invited speaker by the Malaysian Bar to speak on "Practical Construction Law for Practitioners"
• Former member of the Bar Council Construction Law Committee
• Former Sports Convenor (Table Tennis) of the Malaysian Bar
• Former member of the Bar Council Human Rights Committee

• Licensed Member of the Malaysian Bar
• Currently Applying to be Admitted as ACT Solicitor
• Currently Applying to be a Certified English-Chinese-English Translator

• Business Network International (BNI) Chapter President (2018)

• Representing over 400 low-cost apartment residents mainly from Chinese and Indian ethnicities in Kuala Lumpur. These residents had been using car parks over a piece of land for decades since 1980s, and I was engaged to challenge their developer's subsequent claim of ownership over the same car park land 20 over years after the fact. One issue that arose was whether the developer could assume ownership in the light of the absence of title ownership laws at the time.

• Assisted several villages of aboriginals in the State of Sabah, who practiced Protestant Christian and Catholic faiths. My role involved assessing and reviewing contracts drafted by local state councils of different faiths. Upon careful examination, I discovered that these contracts effectively relinquished the aboriginals' customary rights over their lands for the construction of religious buildings. The core issue was not the religious aspect but rather navigating through the complex contracts to protect my clients' customary and native land rights.

• During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, took decisive action on the clients' behalf to freeze the accounts of a fraudulent party who cheated my clients out of millions of Ringgit through a deceptive contract. I successfully recouped the said sums, safeguarding my client's interests during a particularly challenging time.

• Represented a company who had signed a settlement agreement with a fraudulent party before COVID-19. The settlement aimed to settle a debt belonging to a wound-up company, and my client had signed it without legal advice. Midway through the payments, my client realised that the agreement was in fact based on a crafted deception by the fraudulent party. I was then engaged to file a claim in court, seeking to declare the settlement agreement illegal and unenforceable. The court not only acceded to my argument but also granted my client the right to claim damages, interest, and compensation.

Above experience hopefully could show you my deep commitment to fair and just outcomes. Throughout the experience, i have demonstrated my effective analytical skills, and an unwavering dedication to my clients' rights. My ability to navigate complex legal issues (with the help of good team support of course), such as challenging long-standing ownership claims and dissecting intricate contracts, reflect my meticulous attention to detail and strategic thinking. All in all, law is but a necessary tool to bridge the gaps for people, no matter their religious, social, racial and cultural differences.

• Ecological economics , which champions the urgent need to harmonize economic growth with environmental sustainability, advocating for forward-thinking policies that respect ecological limits and prioritize the long-term health of our planet.

• Behavioural economics , which delves into the intriguing ways psychological, cognitive, and emotional factors shape economic decisions, often challenging traditional notions of rational behaviour.

• Testimonies of individuals who have defied the odds , triumphing over adversity to achieve remarkable success in their own right.

• On the social front, equally concerned about the situations of the 'under-served' and the 'undeserved' communities among us. Surely, both law and grace play a crucial role in bridging the gaps between them. I am incredibly excited to be part of a potential larger picture in this country, contributing to meaningful change and progress.

• Representing over 400 low-cost apartment residents mainly from Chinese and Indian ethnicities in Kuala Lumpur. These residents had been using car parks over a piece of land for decades since 1980s, and I was engaged to challenge their developer's subsequent claim of ownership over the same car park land 20 over years after the fact. One issue that arose was whether the developer could assume ownership in the light of the absence of title ownership laws at the time.

• Assisted several villages of aboriginals in the State of Sabah, who practiced Protestant Christian and Catholic faiths. My role involved assessing and reviewing contracts drafted by local state councils of different faiths. Upon careful examination, I discovered that these contracts effectively relinquished the aboriginals' customary rights over their lands for the construction of religious buildings. The core issue was not the religious aspect but rather navigating through the complex contracts to protect my clients' customary and native land rights.

• During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, took decisive action on the clients' behalf to freeze the accounts of a fraudulent party who cheated my clients out of millions of Ringgit through a deceptive contract. I successfully recouped the said sums, safeguarding my client's interests during a particularly challenging time.

• Represented a company who had signed a settlement agreement with a fraudulent party before COVID-19. The settlement aimed to settle a debt belonging to a wound-up company, and my client had signed it without legal advice. Midway through the payments, my client realised that the agreement was in fact based on a crafted deception by the fraudulent party. I was then engaged to file a claim in court, seeking to declare the settlement agreement illegal and unenforceable. The court not only acceded to my argument but also granted my client the right to claim damages, interest, and compensation.

Above experience hopefully could show you my deep commitment to fair and just outcomes. Throughout the experience, i have demonstrated my effective analytical skills, and an unwavering dedication to my clients' rights. My ability to navigate complex legal issues (with the help of good team support of course), such as challenging long-standing ownership claims and dissecting intricate contracts, reflect my meticulous attention to detail and strategic thinking. All in all, law is but a necessary tool to bridge the gaps for people, no matter their religious, social, racial and cultural differences.

• Ecological economics , which champions the urgent need to harmonize economic growth with environmental sustainability, advocating for forward-thinking policies that respect ecological limits and prioritize the long-term health of our planet.

• Behavioural economics , which delves into the intriguing ways psychological, cognitive, and emotional factors shape economic decisions, often challenging traditional notions of rational behaviour.

• Testimonies of individuals who have defied the odds , triumphing over adversity to achieve remarkable success in their own right.

• On the social front, equally concerned about the situations of the 'under-served' and the 'undeserved' communities among us. Surely, both law and grace play a crucial role in bridging the gaps between them. I am incredibly excited to be part of a potential larger picture in this country, contributing to meaningful change and progress.