Professor Dato' Dr. Rahmat bin Mohamad is a Malaysian legal scholar and professor of law at the Universiti Teknologi MARA. He is currently the Chairman of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC).[1][2] He was the Chairman of National Sports Institute of Malaysia from August 2019 until August 2023 and the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) from August 2022 until August 2023 .[3][4]
Rahmat Mohamad was the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Industry, Community and Alumni Network) of Universiti Teknologi MARA from November 2018 until November 2021.[5][6] He has served Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam in various capacities from 1986 onwards. He served as the Assistant Vice Chancellor (Quality and Knowledge Advancement) (2003–2005), Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) (2005–2008), Assistant Vice Chancellor (Strategy) (2016) and Dean of Law Faculty (2017).
On 23 March 2021, on the recommendation of the Bureau and the candidates proposed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Environmental Law, the IUCN Council appointed Dr Nilufer Oral as the IUCN World Conservation Congress Elections Officer and Dr Rahmat Mohamad as the Deputy Elections Officer.[7]
In July 2023, Rahmat Mohamad was conferred the title of Honorary Fellow by Aberystwyth University in United Kingdom.[8] Emeritus Professor John Williams of Aberystwyth University stated in the conferral presentation that:
... "Aberystwyth is proud of his achievements. He is one of the many Aberystwyth alumni from Malaysia who have significantly impacted politics, law, and society in Malaysia and beyond".[9]
Career at Universiti Teknologi MARA
During his tenure as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Industry, Community, and Alumni) at UiTM from 2018 to 2021, Rahmat Mohamad held diverse responsibilities. These included overseeing the university's industry, community, and alumni networks, consolidating 45 alumni associations into a single organisation under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, fostering impactful collaborations between the industry and the university through various initiatives, launching sustainable community development programmes, preserving community-based eco-tourism initiatives in places like Keniam, Teluk Melano, and Sungai Tiang, leading the university's endowment strategy, and transforming the Centre for Industry, Community, and Alumni Networks into a data-driven centre through the SMART integrated reporting system and alumni portal.[10][11] Furthermore, he also took a lead role in conducting the 'Kajian Impak 20 Tahun Penubuhan UiTM,' which provided comprehensive analyses of UiTM's contributions to Malaysia's socio-economic development.[12]
During his role as the Assistant Vice Chancellor (Strategy) from 2016 to 2017,[13] Rahmat Mohamad had several key responsibilities including (but not exclusive to) providing crucial insights to the Vice-Chancellor on university-related matters, strengthening the university's ties with stakeholders, conveying the Vice-Chancellor's mandates, strategies, and vision to the Deans and Rectorate, formulating strategies for the Vice-Chancellor's relationships and university leadership, and analysing, advising, and strategising concerning the university's political stance regarding Article 153.
Similarly, during his appointment as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) from 2005 to 2008, Rahmat Mohamad assumed a range of important responsibilities. These responsibilities encompassed securing top-down grants amounting to RM1.5 million from the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) for research in Taman Negara Kuala Keniam, founding a cadre of Young Research Leaders at UiTM, acquiring the Kuala Keniam Research Station within Taman Negara Perhilitan, and supervising the project evaluating the ripple effects of research activities in the Kuala Keniam area.[14][15]
Rahmat Mohamad also served the institution as the founding Assistant Vice Chancellor of the Institute of Quality and Knowledge Advancement (INQKA) from 2003 to 2005, where he held several significant roles. He was responsible to strengthen university's quality agenda, serving as the institution's chief executive officer for International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) initiatives. He was also acting as the Founding Director of the ASEAN Studies Centre, and representing UiTM at ASEAN conferences hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra).[16] He also took on the role of Chairman and Organiser of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference held during the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2005.[16]
Rahmat Mohamad was the Dean of the Law Faculty at UiTM from 2017 to 2018.[17]
Rt Hon Lord Thomas of Cwmgïedd, Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, presenting Professor Dato' Dr Rahmat Mohamad as Honorary Fellow in 2023.
Career at AALCO
He has served the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization as the Secretary-General for two terms (2008–2012 and 2012–2016). In recognition of his 8 years contribution at AALCO, in 2016, he was appointed as a member of Eminent Person Group (EPG) of AALCO.
Rahmat was appointed the fifth Secretary- General of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) on 20 June 2008 at AALCO's 47th Annual Session held in New Delhi, India.[18] He was subsequently unanimously reappointed on 18 June 2012 at AALCO's 51st Annual Session in Abuja, Nigeria.[19]
With the UN International Law Commission in Geneva.
Under his supervision, AALCO has also organized various conferences on topics as far-ranging as the Law of the Sea, Climate Change, and Competition Law. He also introduced on the agenda of the Organization subjects of contemporary relevance such as International Law in Cyperspace, Legal Regime governing Marine Biodiversity and Legal Aspects of Violent Extremism and its manifestations.[20]
Furthermore, he has delivered academic lectures and addresses at various academic institutions both in India and abroad. In an effort to disseminate knowledge, both on international law in general, as well as on the Asian-African perspective, he has published books and serves as the Editor-in-Chief for several AALCO publications and journals. He has commissioned, through the mandate of AALCO Member States, extensive research studies on topics crucially important to AALCO and its Members; topics have included Unilateral and Secondary Sanctions, Statehood of Palestinian, Cyber-law, and Marine Biodiversity.[21]
Rahmat has been actively involved in the Rome Statue of International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2008 through research publications and organising conferences, workshops and seminars. Among the notable inputs was his intervention in the Putrajaya ICC Dialogue in 2012 prior to the First Review Conference held in Kampala, Uganda in 2012.[22]
At the United Nations Office,Vienna.
Apart from his diplomatic role, he has written on diverse topics in public international law.[23][24]
Education
Rahmat Mohamad first read law at Institut Teknologi MARA (now Universiti Teknologi MARA), Malaysia with Diploma in Law and later Advanced Diploma in Law in 1985. He then pursued his postgraduate course and obtained LL.M. in Commercial Law at the University of Bristol, England in 1986. He gained his Doctor of Philosophy in Law from the University of Aberystwyth, Wales in 2001 entitled "Dispute Settlement Mechanism is the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)".
Capacity as Head of Delegation / Secretary-General of AALCO in the United Nations and Other Inter-Governmental Meetings
During his tenure as Secretary-General, Rahmat Mohamad skillfully navigated a series of diplomatic conferences, taking on the mantle of Head of Mission. These conferences were strategically aligned with the concerns of the AALCO Member State. Notable among his engagements were his active participation in the First Review Conference of the ICC in Kampala, Uganda, and his involvement in an Informal Meeting between AALCO and the International Law Commission held in Geneva.
Amidst these diplomatic pursuits, Rahmat Mohamad delivered a collection of impactful speeches and addresses. His address during the General Statement of the Third World Summit of Prosecutors, which took place in Bucharest, Romania, from March 23 to 25, 2009, underscored his insightful contributions. Furthermore, his introductory remarks at the Meeting of Legal Advisers from AALCO Member States and the Joint AALCO-ILC Meeting held on October 28, 2009, at the UN Headquarters in New York, demonstrated his leadership within international legal circles.
Rahmat Mohamad's active engagement extended to the General Debate of the Review Conference of the ICC Rome Statute in June 2010 in Kampala, Uganda, where his perspective played a crucial role. His address delivered at the International Law Commission (ILC) located in the UN Offices in Geneva on July 14, 2010, further showcased his commitment to advancing international legal dialogue.
In November 2010, he engaged in discussions on pressing Legal Issues Confronting the Regions of Africa and Asia at the UN-AALCO Legal Advisers Meeting in New York. Later that same month, he delivered a significant address during the Workshop on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, underscoring the importance of international cooperation, in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Rahmat Mohamad's contributions remained consistent, as seen through his address to the members of the International Law Commission (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2012. His participation also left an impact at the State Parties Assembly Meeting of the International Criminal Court in November 2012 in The Hague, Netherlands.
Noteworthy among his addresses is his presentation on the Selected Work of the International Law Commission (ILC) before the Members of ILC at the United Nations in Geneva in July 2014. Similarly, his role as Head of Delegation/Participants at the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore at WIPO Headquarters in Geneva in July 2014, highlighted his versatility in international legal discussions.
Rahmat Mohamad continued to contribute actively, addressing diverse topics. His insightful address on International Law Today: Perspectives and Challenges, delivered at the AALCO Legal Advisers Meeting in the United Nations Trusteeship Council Chamber in New York on October 24, 2014, showcased his evolving perspective.
In his role as a keynote speaker, he addressed topics such as Marine Bio-Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction at the AALCO Law of the Sea Expert Meeting in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on August 24–25. Additionally, his keynote address on Customary International Law at the AALCO Informal Expert Group Meeting on Customary International Law with the International Law Commission (ILC) in Bangi on August 27 and 28, 2015, underscored his enduring commitment to international legal discourse.
The significance of his contributions was further exemplified through his address on AALCO and UN Diplomacy at 70, presented during the AALCO Legal Advisers Meeting in the United Nations Trusteeship Council Chambers in New York on November 28, 2015.
His leadership extended to his role as Chairperson during the AALCO–UNODC Talk on Cybercrime and International Law, held in Vienna, Austria, in May 2016, further cementing his legacy in the realm of international diplomacy and legal discourse.
Publications (Books/Book Chapter)
Rahmat has written numerous articles in journals, newspapers, book chapters, and books in areas of his expertise.
Mohamad, R. & Aziz, A.A., A Dispute Settlement Mechanism for the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), Lexis Nexis – Malayan Law Journal (2004)[26]
Mohamad, R. & Aziz, A.A, Understanding Dispute Settlement Mechanisms in the World Trading System: An Analysis of the Mechanism under the WTO, NAFTA and MERCOSUR, Lexis Nexis – Malayan Law Journal Publication (2004)[27]
Mohamad, R, Asian African Perspectives on International Law in the Post Westphalian Era: Some Reflections. AALCO Publication, 2011[28]
Secretary General's Handbook on Basic Entitlements and Obligations under the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) (2015)
Mohamad, R, Asian and African Views on International Law (2016): UiTM and KLRCA Joint Publication
Mohamad, R. (2005) “Dispute Settlement Mechanism in the Muslim World”. In International Trade and Finance in Muslim Countries, Kuala Lumpur, IKIM Publication
Mohamad, R & Rizal, A., (2006) “Preservation of Progeny: Issues from the Civil Law Perspectives”, In Genealogy and Preservation of the Progeny: An Islamic perspective, Kuala Lumpur, MPH Publication
Mohamad, R, (2009), “Bringing Together Asian African States in Harmonizing the International Legal Order in the Post Westphalian Era”. In Essays on Contemporary Essays on International Law, New Delhi, AALCO Publication, p. 7
Mohamad, R, (2011) “Towards a people-centric approach to global governance: Some preliminary reflections”. In AALCO@50: Some Reflections on International Law, New Delhi, AALCO Publication
Mohamad, R, Rowena Maguire, Bridget Lewis, Charles Sampford ed. (2013) ”The Role of the International Criminal Court and the Rome Statute in International Criminal Justice standard setting: some reflections”. In Shifting Global Powers and International Law: Challenges and Opportunities, London, Routledge, pp 100–115
Mohamad, R, Ali Z. Marossi, Marisa R. Bassett ed. (2014) Unilateral Sanctions in International Law: A Quest for its Legality”. In Economic Sanctions under International Law: Unilateralism, Multilateralism, Legitimacy, and Consequences. The Hague, Springer/ASSER Institute Publication, The Hague, p. 71
Mohamad, R, Ahmad Y, Kikuchi and Popovski ed. (2014), Going Beyond ASEAN Regional Identity. In Building ASEAN Identity on a Transnational Dimension. Tokyo, United Nations University Publication, p. 67
Mohamad, R, (2015) “An Afro-Asian Perspective on the International Criminal Court”. In Historical Origins of International Criminal Law, Volume 4, FICHL Publication Series No. 23, pp729 – 748
Mohamad, R, “International Criminal Court in the Development of international rule of law: a reflection of Asian-African views, Charles Sampford and Ramesh Tahkur eds. (2015). In Institutional Supports for the International Rule of Law, London, Routledge, pp 59
Mohamad, R, Patrick Keyzer, Vesselin Popovski and Charles Sampford eds. (2015)”The Role of the International Criminal Court in Aiding National Prosecutions of International Crimes”. In Access to International Justice, London, Routledge, pp. 35–46
Mohamad R, Towards a global treaty on conversation and sustainability of marine Biodiversity in areas Beyond National jurisdiction (ABNJ) and Its Implication on ASEAN, in Developments in Malaysian law; Essays Commemorating 50 years of legal Education at UiTM, Sweet and Maxwell, 2018
