Tan Sri Dr. Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s legal career took off in the Malaysian civil service as a Deputy Public Prosecutor in the Attorney-General’s Chambers  where he prosecuted a wide range of criminal and security cases.

 

Since 1985, after his postgraduate studies he founded his own practice,  Messrs Shafee & Co which he runs until today where his areas of practice encompass a broad spectrum of specialized areas of law such as Human Rights law, Constitutional law and Administrative, Criminal law, Defamation, Contempt(Media Law), Extradition and mutual assistance in criminal matters, Corporate litigation,  Election law, Habeas corpus, and International law especially that pertaining to Criminal law and International Human Rights.

 

Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has developed a “niche” practice especially in the area of Constitutional law, Human Rights, Criminal law, Defamation law and other Media law practice.

 

He currently represents Malaysia as the First sole Malaysian Representative to the AICHR (ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights) and was actively involved in the drafting of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD), the first in the region of ASEAN.   He currently advises the Government of Malaysia on numerous legal issues. He was a former Commissioner for SUHAKAM (The Malaysian Human Rights Commission) from 2004-2010.

Endeavours in the field of Human Rights

 

AICHR Representative, October 2009 and ongoing.

 

In October 2009 he was elected by the Malaysian Government as the First and sole Malaysian Representative to AICHR (ASEAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS), a human rights body committed to the promotion and protection of human rights in ASEAN states.

 

SUHAKAM Commissioner (2004-2010)

 

Tan Sri was also appointed in April 2004 by His Majesty  The King (The Yang di-Pertuan Agong) as Commissioner for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) for 3 consecutive terms until 2010.

 

Tan Sri was appointed as head of the Law Reform and International Treaties Working Group of Suhakam for several years.

 

He was also a Member on the Editorial Board of the Human Rights Journal for SUHAKAM for several years.  He founded the Journal.

 

Doctorate of Law, University of East London, December 2010

 

In December 2010, Tan Sri  Dr. Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was conferred with the Honorary award of Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa) carrying the honour of LL.D from the University of East London for his work and contribution in the related field  to  mark  Tan  Sri’s consistent contributions and work over decades  in the field of criminal justice, global human rights  and global anti-terrorism both  locally and internationally.  [The University of East London’s School of Law is one of the top centres of its kind in the UK and the Commonwealth, in particular, its Centre for Human Rights and Conflict and is internationally recognized for its research in the field].

 

Education

• Graduated with a second Lieutenant ranking from the prestigious Royal Military College, Malaysia (a four(4) year course). (1969 – 1972)

• In 1977 Tan Sri received his LLB (Hons.) Degree from the University of Malaya.

• In 1984 Tan Sri received his Masters in Law from the prestigious and well known London School of Economics and Political Science ( a part of the University of London).

At the LSE and in London, Tan Sri specialised in the following disciplines of law: Advanced Company Law, Intellectual Industrial Property Law, Advanced English Administrative Law; and Comparative Criminal Law & Procedure.

• 1983 – 1984 : Tan Sri was attached to the Chambers of Blanco White Q.C. and received training in intellectual and industrial property laws especially in litigation under several leading Queen’s Counsel in the field, including Mary Vitoria Q.C, Michael Fysh Q.C, Robin Jacob Q.C (apart from Blanco White Q.C himself).

• In 1977 Tan Sri attended a course sponsored by the US State Department on “Legal Institutions and Grass Roots Movements in the U.S.A.”. He attended a short course on Advocacy at the National College for District Attorneys at Houston, Texas. Tan Sri’ Muhammad Shafee was also made Honorary Member of the Hennepin County Bar Association, Minnesota, U. S. A.