Shad Saleem Faruqi

Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi is a Malaysian Professor Professor of Law who has served Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, Selangor in various capacities from 1971 onwards. He served as the Head of the Diploma in Law programme (1979–1984), as Assistant Rector (1996–1999), Assistant Vice-Chancellor (1999–2001) and Legal Advisor (1996–2006, 2010–present).

He has also served on the faculties of law at the International Islamic University Malaysia, part-time at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a visiting professor/Honorary Legal Adviser/Holder of the Tun Sambanthan Chair at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.

Education

He was educated in Colonel Brown Cambridge School and at the age of 19, Dr. Shad Faruqi graduated from Wesleyan University in the United States with a degree in Government. He went on to complete his LLB (First Class, First Position) and LLM (First Class, First Position) from Aligarh Muslim University, India and his PhD from International Islamic University Malaysia where he was supervised by the renowned Tan Sri Prof Ahmad bin Ibrahim.

Work and contributions

At the international level Dr. Shad Faruqi has served as a consultant to many countries including Maldives, Fiji, Timor Leste, Afghanistan Iraq and Sudan, advising them on their constitutional documents. In 1991 as part of an Asia Foundation Project he drafted the constitution of the Republic of Maldives. He was a one-time member and Secretary-General of the Manila-based Congressional Research and Training Services that conducted several institutional efficacy courses for legislators from many third world countries. He has presented seminar papers in the USA, UK, Germany, Iran, Kenya, Sudan, Maldives, India, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Australia and Japan. He has helped to draft several international documents including the Kuala Lumpur Declaration to Criminalize War and a document for the UN on Protection for Places of Worship. He is a sitting Judge on the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal. He is an Executive Council member of the Kuala Lumpur-based International Centre for Law and legal Studies.

At the national level, he has been called upon on several occasions to draft national legislation. On behalf of Institut Teknologi MARA he drafted the Institut Teknologi MARA (Amendment) Bill 1996 that went on to become an Act of Parliament. In 1999 he drafted the Universiti Teknologi MARA (Amendment) Bill that was enacted by Parliament as Act A1073. The Act converted Institut Teknologi MARA into a full-fledged university.

At the end of 2004, the Barisan Nasional Back-Benchers Club of the Parliament of Malaysia appointed him as a consultant to advise them on reforming and empowering Parliament in the face of the executive branch's dominance of the Malaysian government.

In 2006 the Minister of Education appointed him Chairman of a Committee to propose amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1972 [Act 30]. The Committee's recommendations were adopted as law in early 2009. In 2008 he drafted the new 'Apex Constitution' of Universiti Sains Malaysia. In 2010 he was reappointed to a committee to review the Universities and University Colleges Act [Act 30]. He is also a member of the Apex University Initiative; a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Studies; and one-time member of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission's Education Sub-Committee.

Awards and honours

In 2008, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia's first "apex university", appointed him as a Visiting Professor. Later he was appointed an Honorary Legal Advisor and the first holder of the Tun Sambanthan Chair. In 2009 UiTM honoured him with the University's first Emeritus Professorship award. In 2009, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia honoured him with the federal title of "Datuk".

Authorship

Articles

Between 1982–1985 Dr Shad contributed periodic articles and editorials to the New Straits Times. During 2001 and 2002 he authored a regular weekly column "Facets of Our Constitution" for the Sunday Star. His column "Document of Destiny" appeared in The Sun from 2006 to 2007. Presently he writes a fortnightly column "Reflecting on the Law" for the Star. he has written the following articles:

• Faruqi, Shad Saleem The Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Commission & War Crimes Tribunal.
• Faruqi, Shad Saleem Freedom of religion under the Constitution.
• Faruqi, Shad Saleem (18 November 2009). Understanding Our Basic Rights.

Books

Dr Shad is the author of Human Rights, Globalisation and the Asian Economic Crisis, Islam International Law and the War Against Terrorism, Islam, Democracy and Development,Document of Destiny: The Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia and "The Bedrock of Our Nation: Our Constitution". He is the co-author of Media Law & Regulations in Malaysia and Co-editor of "Decolonising Our Universities – Towards a Non-Eurocentric Paradigm". He has contributed over 350 articles to legal periodicals, anthologies and newspapers and has presented over 300 seminar papers in 15 countries including the US, UK, Australia, Germany and Japan.

References

• Ahmad, Zainon & Phang, Lew-Ann (1 October 2005). . The Sun.
• Lim, Kit Siang (2005). "Birth of a Parliamentary Committee System at last?". Retrieved 26 October 2005.
• Speech by Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi at the launch of his book, "Document of Destiny, The Constitution of the federation of Malaysia" (27 June 2008). .
• Yuen, Meikeng (30 July 2009). Prof: 1Malaysia must address ethnic composition in civil service.
• News Straits Times (26 July 2009). Inquest into sudden death mandatory, says expert.
• Eminent Persons Lecture Series, Universiti Teknologi MARA (4 November 2008). .
• Theophilus, Claudia (7 May 2007). Malaysian family split by faith. Al-Jazeera Everywoman – Apostasy on YouTube.