Yin Xin (Samantha) Chong

Samantha is a Legal Associate at Thong Seng Kong & Associates, Head of the Legal Aid Centre (Kuala Lumpur), a community outreach program. She is a member of the Bar Council for Migrants, Refugees and Immigration Affairs Committee, and the Bar Council National Legal Aid Foundation. As an active member of the Bar Council National Legal Aid Foundations, she has trained lawyers wishing to participate in government funded legal aid schemes. She has also played a leading role in disseminating legal knowledge to the community through her management role in the Bar Council Legal Aid Centre. As the deputy public prosecutor in the Attorney- General’s Chambers, Samantha has experience in prosecuting immigration cases. In her current role, she has found herself defending the rights of migrant workers that have been arrested with or without documentation. Samantha believes the biggest challenge facing migrant workers and their families is the enforcement agencies; in particular, the Royal Malaysia Police, prosecutors and judges and their insensitive sentiments about the situation of migrant workers. The program will provide an opportunity to network with fellow participants who are passionate about better legal representation and law reform in the area of migrant workers.