Roger Tan
Datuk Roger Tan Kor Mee () is a lawyer by profession. Born on 1 October 1961 in Yong Peng, Johor, Malaysia. Early life. Roger Tan is the sixth child and youngest son of Tan Sue Yong and Swee Mei. Sue Yong was born to a wealthy family in China sharing the same lineage of the famous Chinese poet in the Qing Dynasty, Zheng Banqiao. But like all the other first generation immigrants to Malaya, Sue Yong had to toil and sweat as a labourer. Born and brought up in Yong Peng new village, Roger's family lived in poverty  when he was young. As a little boy, Roger had to rise up early to tap rubber trees before getting ready for school. Food then was often rice or porridge with soya sauce or one or two small slices of preserved bean curds. He had his primary and secondary school education in his hometown. At Sekolah Menegah Inggeris (Secondary English School), he was also the head prefect of the school in 1978. He was baptised in 1988 at Yishun Lutheran Church, Singapore. On 23 May 2000, his father, Sue Yong went missing after taking a walk. The family's attempts  in locating their father have touched the hearts of many Malaysians. Education. Roger Tan received his early education at Sekolah Menengah Inggeris (Secondary English School) in his hometown, and at the Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Kuala Lumpur. He later taught for a short period at the Chung Hwa High School, Rengit, Johor before he left to read law at Queen Mary College, University of London. In July 1988, he was admitted as a barrister of the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, London. In 1989, he was admitted as an advocate and solicitor in Singapore and Malaysia. He also  holds a Master of Laws degree from the National University of Singapore. Career. Professional. As a lawyer, he has acted for various corporations in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, and as a legal consultant to various statutory bodies and government authorities in Malaysia. He sat in the legislative drafting committees of Johor State Government and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Local Government with regard to Water Supply Enactment 1993 of Johor, Water Supply (Successor Company) Enactment 1993 of Johor, Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) (Amendment) Act 2002 and its regulations, Housing Development (Control And Licensing) (Amendment) Act 2007 and  its regulations, and the Solid Waste And Public Cleansing Management Act 2007. The Johor Muslim orphans are indebted to him when Roger acted "pro bono" (free of charge) for Al-Yatama Bhd, which runs nine Muslim orphanages in Johor, and successfully recovered and repossessed of its land in Kota Tinggi, Johor in addition to obtaining a judgment sum of RM64 million for Al-Yatama Bhd in 2004. Social. In 1988, he was one of the young lawyers selected to meet with Singapore Chief Justice, Wee Chong Jin to give their views on the establishment of Singapore Academy of Law. Roger  was instrumental in founding the Waste Management Association of Malaysia in 2005, having drafted its constitution and assumed office as its first Honorary Secretary. In 2008, the International Bar Association appointed him as part of an international team to evaluate the state of judiciary and the rule of law in Fiji. Award. Panglima Jasa Negara, by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) XIV of Malaysia in conjunction with His Majesty's Official Birthday on 6 June 2015. The award carries the title "Datuk". Personal. In his early years of practice, he also taught Business Law part-time at his alma  mater, TAR College. He is a very active member of the legal fraternity, having served in various positions at the Malaysian Bar. He has been acknowledged to have transformed the public image of the Malaysian Bar when he singlehandedly designed and managed the website of the Malaysian Bar for 4 years. He writes regularly and has contributed many articles in local and foreign legal periodicals and news media.