Peguam veteran VL Kandan meninggal dunia pada usia 89 tahun

VL Kandan, a veteran lawyer, passed away yesterday at the age of 89. The respected lawyer, who served as the Sungai Way Member of Parliament for two terms and was also a member of the Selangor Exco, is remembered for his significant contributions to the field of intellectual property law. Kandan, born in Klang, was the brother of late MIC president V Manickavasagam, who served as the minister of labor from 1974 to 1979.

Following in his brother's footsteps in politics and public service, Kandan served as the Sungai Way Member of Parliament for two terms from 1974 to 1982. Before embarking on his legal career, Kandan worked as a teacher for about five years before returning to Malaysia and being admitted to the Bar in 1965. He built a successful career at Shearn Delamore & Co, where he was particularly known for his expertise in intellectual property law.

Kandan was one of the early practitioners in the field and played a significant role in the development of intellectual property practices in Malaysia and beyond. He served as the first president of the Asean Intellectual Property Association and collaborated with the Intellectual Property Malaysia Association. Kandan also authored Background Reading Material on the Intellectual Property System of Malaysia, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and served as a member of the MyIPO organization.

He represented Malaysia in various international forums and conferences related to intellectual property. However, Kandan's legal career was not limited to intellectual property law; he also specialized in employment and corporate law. Shearn Delamore & Co described him as one of the firm's early practitioners in the High Court, alongside former Supreme Court judge Mahadev Shankar.

Kandan also contributed to the development of labor and corporate law in Malaysia. He served in various capacities for fellow lawyers, including as a member of the Malaysian Bar Association and the Bar Council. Kandan was also actively involved in community service, working with Pure Life Society, a charity home for underprivileged children and orphans, and once held the right-hand position in the organization.