VICTORY IN SABAH!

The Malaysia-Singapore Bench & Bar and Quadrangular Games 2002 Friday, 24 May to Sunday, 26 May 2002

This year, the Malaysia-Singapore Bench & Bar and Quadrangular Games were held for the very first time in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. This year's Games were dubbed 'The Eco Games' - said Alex Decena, Sabah Law Association Organising Committee member and Cross-country convenor: 'This year's theme is aptly named "The Eco Games", befitting and reminding us of Sabah's breathtaking ancient tropical rainforests ... where one can experience nature at its best'.

It was evident that despite the idyllic surroundings and tranquil scenery, there was no lack of fighting spirit in our competitors. In fact, for some participants, it was literally a case of having to hit the ground running. Due to a combination of shortage of flights to Sabah and the very tight timing of the Games, a number of our sportspersons found it more of a challenge to reach their games destination than to actually play their game. Our Premier Soccer Team, for example, touched down in Sabah on Friday evening and was ushered straight to the soccer field from the airport, without even time to deposit their luggage at the hotel! This was to enable them to complete the match while there was still light - the sun sets at around 6pm in Sabah and the soccer field was not equipped with floodlights. One bright soul quipped that this year's Games should have been called 'The Amazing Race' instead.

In keeping with the name they had given the Games, the Sabahans arranged for a Cross-country Run which would have been worthy of coverage by AXN. According to our Cross-country Convenor, Harold Or, it was more of a climb than a run. 'The route was very challenging - it involved two steep hill climbs. At one point, we had to climb with the help of ropes; and even used a wooden ladder to get to the top of one of the hills.' This is one cross-country event that our runners (and their legs) will not forget for a long time to come.

In true 'eco-challenge' spirit, this year's Games also saw many of our sportspersons displaying multiple sporting skills, performing double and sometimes even triple duty. The Singaporean and Malaysian Swimming and Netball Convenors were seen in deep negotiation over the timing of their games, in order to allow swimmer Elaine Tan to take part in the Netball match. Netball players Lim Pek Bur and Magdelene Chew were seen donning soccer boots on Sunday afternoon, to participate in the Ladies' Soccer Match against Malaysia. Said Hui Choon Wai, convenor for the Ladies' Soccer Team: 'We had great fun; and it's thanks to the netballers and tennis players that we won our game'. As a matter of fact, it was tennis player Corrina Lim who scored the winning goal of the Singapore-Malaysia Ladies' Soccer Match, which also clinched the Law Society's victory in the Bench & Bar Games. (To the disappointment of some of the male spectators, Corrina - while elated to have scored the goal - deigned not to follow the example of American female soccer star Brandi Chastain, and kept her jersey firmly in place!) Tennis player Simon Tan was seen battling on the squash courts all Friday afternoon, and then gamely changing into tennis gear that same evening to practice for his Saturday morning tennis match.

If there was an 'Energizer Bunny' award for the Games, this year's award would surely go to Edwin Sim. Originally signed up as a member of the Tennis Team, he was in an aeroplane on his way to Sabah on Friday afternoon when he was recruited by the Premier Soccer Team to join them in their Friday evening match against Sabah. He then went on to compete in the Saturday morning Cross-country run at 6am (and came in third), after which he returned to the Sutera Harbour Marina to battle it out in a hard-fought tennis doubles match against the Malaysians. In between, he still had the energy to attend the Welcome Reception on Friday night, hosted by the Sabah Law Association under the Cirque-du-Soleil-style big top that covered the Sutera Harbour Marina's tennis courts. Whew!

The Law Society contingent was honoured to have the Honourable Attorney General Chan Sek Keong as our Head of Delegation this year. This was our Attorney General's first time as Head of Delegation at the Bench & Bar and Quadrangular Games, and we lived up to our promise that he would be holding up the Judges' Cup in victory at the gala dinner cum awards ceremony. Our thanks to the Attorney General for his support and we look forward to his presence at next year's Games.

Our thanks also to UBS Financial Services Group and Daimler Chrysler, who were our partners and proud supporters in this year's Games. We hope this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

And now for the results:

Bench & Bar Games

Winner
Singapore

Scores
Singapore: 7.5
West Malaysia: 5.5

Quadrangular Games

Winner
West Malaysia

Scores
West Malaysia: 3
Singapore: 2
Sabah: 1
Sarawak: 1

Adeline Ang
Law Society of Singapore

The Law Society's banner stands tall and proud	Golfers from both countries gamely posing for the camera
(L to R) Attorney General Chan Sek Keong, the Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohamed Dzaiddin bin Hj Abdullah, Mrs Chao Hick Tin and Justice Chao Hick Tin	(From Left) Mr Giam Chin Toon, SC, past President of the Law Society, together with Mr B Mohan Singh, a senior practitioner
The Honourable Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohamed Dzaiddin bin Hj Abdullah	Mr Tongel Yeo looking just a little bit like Tiger Woods
A Malaysian bowler striking a pose	Singapore's Badminton Team
Our Tennis Team looking fresh and perky before the onslaught of the battle	The Malaysian and Singapore Tennis Teams
The Singapore Swimming Team	Our swimmers taking the plunge
'No you don't, that's my ball' - the netball girls slugging it out	The Welcome Reception held beneath the grand marquee at the Sutera Harbour Resort
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim	The closing dinner: a toast to the Games
President meet President, Mr Mah Weng Kwai, Bar Council Malaysia and Mr Palakrishnan, SC, Law Society of Singapore	Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Steve Shim (left), receiving the Quadrangular Games trophy on behalf of the West Malaysian contingent from Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Chong Kah Kiat (right)
The Honourable Attorney General Chan Sek Keong triumphantly holds up the Judges Cup	Singapore boleh!