By Chia, Joshua Yeong Jia written on 04-Aug-2006
National Library Board Singapore

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Bashir Ahmad Mallal (b. 26 February 1898, Domel, Pakistan - d. 5 September 1972, Singapore), founder and editor of the Malayan Law Journal (MLJ), was an eminent law scholar and benefactor of the Faculty of Law of the University of Singapore.    

Early Life
Mallal was born in Domel in West Pakistan on 26 February 1898.  During the First World War, young Mallal travelled east and settled in Singapore.  In 1918, Mallal joined the firm of Battenburg & Silva as a law clerk. 

Achievements
His work as a law clerk made him aware of the inadequacies of law reporting in the region.  To fill the void created by the discontinuation of the monthly Straits Law Journal and Reporter some 50 years ago, Mallal conceived and founded the Malayan Law Journal (MLJ) in 1932 and became its editor.  The monthly publication reported law cases from Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.  

Self-taught Law Scholar
Besides his involvement in the MLJ, Mallal was the author of more than a dozen law publications, including The Annotated Edition of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Straits Settlements and Mallal's Criminal Procedure.  As Mallal did not have the privilege of formal law training or university education, he earned the reputation of a self-taught law scholar and researcher. He was also regarded as the "lawyer's lawyer" as it was not unusual for lawyers to consult him regarding cases they were working on.  

Generosity
Mallal was a generous man, and was always available to those who turned to him for help or advice.  He was also a benefactor of the Law Faculty of the University of Singapore and its forerunner, the University of Malaya.  Among his donations to the Faculty were gold medals to the top law students, and a large collection of books to the library.  He had also made his own library available to all students, and was a constant source of encouragement for them.  

Recognitions
In recognition of Mallal's contributions to the legal profession, he was conferred honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Singapore on 12 June 1962.  To commemorate the occasion, the B. A. Mallal Moot Prize was created by the University to provide financial incentives to students who performed best in moots conducted in the Law Faculty.

Departure
Mallal continued to serve as MLJ's editor until he passed away on 5 September 1972.  He was survived by six sons and four daughters.  In a tribute to Mallal, then-Chief Justice Wee Chong Jin wrote, "His death is a great loss to all of us for had it not been for him it would have been almost impossible for the legal profession and the judiciary in Singapore to carry out their duties and responsibilities adequately."  After Mallal's death, MLJ's editorship was taken over by his protégé Al-Mansor Adabi.  In 1992, the Singapore Law Reports took over the reporting of the Singapore law case.  Today, MLJ continues to report cases from Malaysia and Brunei, and is the longest-surviving law report in the region.



Author
Joshua Chia Yeong Jia



References
Dorset, J. W. (Ed.). (1939).  Who's who in Malaya, 1939 (p. 96) [Microfilm: NL 10897].   Singapore: Dorset & Co.

Dr. Bashir Ahmad Mallal - in memorian. (1972, Septermber), Malayan Law Journal, xix-xlv.
(RCLOS 340.05 MLJ)

National University of Singapore. (2006).  Honorary degrees recipients.  Retrieved 7 August, 2006 from
www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/info/honorarydegrees.htm

National University of Singapore. (2004).  University level medals & prizes rules of award.  Retrieved 7 August, 2006 from
www.nus.edu.sg/registrar/info/medalsprizes/xrulesofaward.htm

Tan, K. Y. L.  (Ed.). (2005).  Essays in Singapore: legal history (pp. 151-154, 175).  Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Academic & Singapore Academy of Law.
(Call no.: RSING 349.5957 ESS)



Further Readings
Bartholmew, G W (Ed). (1975).  Malaya law review legal essays in memoriam, Bashir Ahmad Mallal, LL.D (pp xi-xii). Singapore.  The Faculty of Law, University of Singapore.
(Call no.: RSING 340.08 MAL)

Koh, T. T. B. (1972, December). In Memoriam - Dr Bashir A. Mallal. Malaya Law Review, 14(2).
(Call no.: RCLOS 340.05 UNI)

Lee, Y. Y., & Namazie, M. K. (1992). A tribute to Dr. Bashir Ahmad Mallal. Singapore Law Review, 13, 156-162.
(Call no.: RSING 340.05 SLR)

Pereira, B. (1995, November 4).  Evidence of illustrious legal history goes on show.  The Straits Time. Retrieved on February 22, 2011, from NewspaperSG. 



The information in this article is valid as at 2008 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject.  Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.