Alumni Spotlight: Jasmine Wong, A Rising Legal Star
Do you remember flipping through the news and stopping on headlines about stateless children and how they are constantly denied access to basic rights? My heart would break every time, knowing they were part of a lost generation - always the outliers, never really accepted into our society.
Endless discrimination, a high risk of detainment, the inability to secure employment, the lack of access to education and healthcare – this list is somewhat endless. Only one thing prevents them from escaping this harsh reality – legal documentation.
But last year in November, their fates were altered when the Federal Court declared that a child, who was abandoned at birth, is entitled to citizenship by operation of law. The Court reaffirmed the principle that the right to nationality is a fundamental right. This historical ruling was celebrated nationwide, bringing with it a sense of justice and security.
We, at BAC, were especially proud as one of our very own alumni, Jasmine Wong, was part of the legal team representing the child’s adoptive parents. Keep reading to learn more about Jasmine and her incredible feats!
When we came across Jasmine’s LinkedIn post on the Federal Court’s ruling, the college was abuzz! Staff and teachers, alike, were brimming with pride. We knew a story was in order...
Despite her hectic schedule, Jasmine graciously agreed to a virtual interview.
During the call, we travelled back in time, to her days as a law student at BAC right up till this exciting win at the highest court of the land.
The Early Years
Jasmine was all smiles as she joined the video call, expressing her excitement about this feature. We jumped right in, first discussing her early days as a law student at BAC.
Jasmine joined us in 2012, bright-eyed and enthusiastic about college life.
She would participate in education fairs, planning committees and was even part of the organising team for the college’s Gala Night in 2014.
“I was particularly invested in the education fairs. Speaking to students and helping them better understand their options, it always felt very rewarding,” she beamed.
Jasmine was also an active participant in the college’s Mooting Society. She explained how they revived the club and began organising and participating in Mooting competitions. They even invited former Federal Court judge, Gopal Sri Ram.
At her first competition in 2014, Jasmine and her partner made it all the way to the finals, coming in second!
“As cliché as this sounds, this was probably my most favourite experience at BAC!” Jasmine laughed.
We then discussed her academic life at BAC... and I think it is safe to say that Jasmine LOVED her classes and lecturers.
"Are Mr Aria and Mr Rajan still teaching? What about Mr Kalish, is he still around? And Ms Diana? I should really come visit soon!”
I found myself smiling involuntarily as I understood her enthusiasm. Attending classes, chatting with lecturers and hanging out with friends – it always felt infinitely more special at BAC.
The alumni completed her final year at Aberystwyth University in Wales. She described how the campus was nestled in a picturesque Welsh countryside, further out from the hustle and bustle of the city – exactly what she wanted!
She then returned to Malaysia and completed her Certificate in Legal Practice. Jasmine is currently a Senior Associate at Mah Weng Kwai & Associates, where she mainly focuses on citizenship and family law, medical law & personal injury as well as employment law.
Recently, Jasmine was also featured by the Asian Legal Business as a Rising Star in Malaysia!
The 4-Year Journey to the Federal Court & Beyond
The next part of our conversation centred around the historical ruling by the Federal Court.
Jasmine first explained how citizenship and statelessness are not novel issues, they are just more widely reported nowadays.
“To be honest, I first heard the word ‘statelessness’ only when I started practicing law,” she said.
Jasmine first began exploring this area of law by taking on adoption matters. It seemed very routine and straightforward – children who needed a home and wonderful individuals who wanted to give them one.
“I can still vividly remember the happiness and joy across their faces when judges would grant the adoption order,” Jasmine smiled, reminiscently.
But what happens next is where things get complicated.
On the adoptive child’s birth certificate, it would read “BUKAN WARGANEGARA” (not a citizen). This usually happens when the biological parents are unknown or when the biological mother is a foreigner. And this birth certificate is the child’s only form of identification as they are unable to obtain an Identity Card (IC).
“Imagine how depressing that must be for a child? Especially when they enter their formative years.”
The senior associate has been fighting for stateless children since 2018 but this was their first win in the Federal Court, allowing them to set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
When Jasmine speaks about these matters, you can’t help but be mesmerised by her sheer passion and care; for her clients, for stateless children and for justice. She explained how this journey was long and arduous, with several obstacles in the way.
“But decisions such as these keep me going,” she determinedly concluded.
As we continued our conversation, I discovered a few surprises about Jasmine – the most shocking was the fact that she did not initially want to pursue law.
The young lawyer had dreams of becoming a performing artist as she plays the piano and violin.
But over the years, she has ignited a deep-seated passion for law. And this passion is the undercurrent that constantly drives her, weaving its way through every aspect of her career.
“It is certainly not a 9-5 job but I would not trade it for the world,” Jasmine smiled in contentment.
As we concluded our interview, I asked her if she had any ‘words of wisdom’ for aspiring lawyers and law students. Here’s what Jasmine had to say:
“Enjoy your college life! Regardless of whether you’re still figuring out your future, I would encourage you to enjoy the process!
It’s also important to realise that experience is everything! Try to gain exposure by working as an intern or paralegal at a law firm. This really helped me when applying what I learnt in my CLP classes.”
From this conversation with Jasmine, I realised several things but one, in particular, stood out – Jasmine proves to us that we can always strive to do good with the abilities we have.
With her years of experience in practice, Jasmine chooses to spend her time fighting for the downtrodden, ensuring they get to live a life of dignity and respect.
Through her team’s efforts, children all over the country will have access to rights they dared not dream of before.
They will have a future.
With more Jasmines in our world, perhaps sooner or later, we will come across headlines about former stateless children becoming judges and lawyers themselves...
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