Outline

Overview

This unit introduces students to the legal systems of Southeast Asia, focusing on two of the following three countries: Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The course emphasises law and development and takes a law and society approach, examining comparative legal doctrine, systems, and rights, and the instrumental role of law in achieving each country’s developmental strategies. Conflicts and tensions inevitably arise. Institutional and regulatory weaknesses, historic atrocities and post-colonial legacies continue to impact on the construction and implementation of laws and policies. We examine these tensions, focusing on human rights, transitional justice, the protection of vulnerable communities, gender and the environment. The unit will be taught at partner institutions in the two countries, and there will be significant field trip components in addition to the participatory lectures.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Law
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	LAWS5194 or LAWS6149
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Salim Farrar, salim.farrar@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Simon Butt, simon.butt@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 3 July 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Presentation	Oral Presentation of Research Proposal (10%) Students discuss their research essay proposal, present findings and explain their process.	10%	Multiple weeks	15 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Structured Class Participation (10%) Attendance, engagement, and on-call contributions across all locations	10%	Ongoing	Ongoing	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-class quiz	Pre-Departure Multiple-Choice Test (Quiz) 20% Test on cultural competencies and basic knowledge of Indonesian and Malaysian legal systems	20%	Week 02 Due date: 02 Jul 2026 at 13:30	60 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Post-Course Reflection (10%) Reflective work on the concepts, ideas and laws encountered ‘in-country’.	10%	Week 06 Due date: 31 Jul 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 31 Jul 2026	1,000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Research Essay (50%) Written essay	50%	Week 12 Due date: 07 Sep 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 14 Sep 2026	4,000 words / 5 weeks	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Pre-Departure Multiple Choice Test (Quiz) (20%)
A Multiple-Choice Test (Quiz), comprising 30 questions, to be held on Thursday 2 July 2026 (Sydney, Australia time). The Quiz will be 60 minutes and will start at 12:30PM and end at 1:30PM. The test will be conducted on the University of Sydney campus, and more information will be available on Canvas. 10 questions will be on Indonesia, 10 on Malaysia, 5 on Law and Development and 5 on Cultural Competencies. Students unable to attend on 2 July will be able to sit a replacement examination on the first day in Malaysia (Monday 13 July 2026).

Class Participation (10%)
Students must attend and engage with all classes and field trips. Five students will be on call each day and will be expected to have a general knowledge of the topics for that day and to ask informed questions. All students should also attend early morning briefings prior to start of classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The same process will be applied in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Post-Course Reflection (10%)
A critical reflection on the student's experiences in Indonesia, Malaysia or a comparison of both, focusing on Law and Development themes.

Word Limit: 1,000 words and must be submitted by 11:59PM on Friday 31 July 2026 (Sydney, Australia time).

Oral Presentation of Research Proposal (10%)
Students are to submit a 1-page summary (500 words maximum) of their proposed research topic, their framework and main references. Proposal must be submitted by 11:59PM on Monday 3 August 2026 (Sydney, Australia time).

Students are asked to explain why they chose their subject matter and proposal, the underlying concepts and their processes for conducting the research. The assessment will be held from 2pm–5pm on Tuesday 4 August 2026, continuing on Wednesday 5 August 2026 and Thursday 6 August 2026 (Sydney, Australia time). Each session will be 15 minutes and students will sign up for their allocated slot.

Research Essay (50%)
The essay should be a comprehensive and well-researched piece of writing that incorporates knowledge and information gained from both the local lectures and site visits, as well as relevant literary sources, and focuses on the role of law in development. Your essay should demonstrate critical thinking, a thorough understanding of the subject matter, and the ability to synthesise information from various sources. The essay has a word limit of 4,000 words. The essay must be submitted by 11:59PM on Monday 7 September 2026 (Sydney, Australia time).

Word limit penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will include all footnotes and any bibliography (if required), and exclude acknowledgements of assistance from editors, automated writing tools or generative AI (where use is permitted).

Referencing: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style, although you should confirm this with your lecturer. A link to the library website where this is set out comprehensively is available at Referencing and Citation Styles: AGLC4.

Special consideration: Successful grants of Special Consideration may involve alternative tasks, as appropriate.

Assessment requirements to pass a unit of study: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	• Completely answers the question. • Contains striking originality of approach or analysis. • Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research (where independent research required). • Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed. • Is otherwise exceptional in some way.
Distinction	75 - 84	• Completely answers the question. • Achieves a critical and evaluative approach to the issues. • Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument. • Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument. • Generally well expressed and free from errors. • Has a clear structure and is well articulated.
Credit	65 - 74	• Covers main issues fairly well in answering the question. • Contains no significant errors • Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues. • Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues. • Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.
Pass	50 - 64	• Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument. • Contains some significant errors. • Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues. • Offers descriptive summary of material relevant to the question. • Superficial use of material, and may display a tendency to paraphrase. • Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis. • Adequate expression. • Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment and satisfies the requirements to proceed to higher-level studies in the degree or subject area.
Fail	0 - 49	• Does not answer the question. • Contains significant or numerous errors. • Few or no identifiable arguments. • Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant. • Lack of research or analysis. • Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure. • Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

For more information see Guide to Grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The late submission of a piece of assessment, without an approved extension, will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment per 24 hours or part thereof, after the due time on the due date. Penalties for late submission will be applied strictly, subject to a 5 minute grace period.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 04	Malaysia: Monday: Malaysian Legal System (9am-12md); Field Trip to Malaysian Bar Council (2-3.20 lecture time); Tuesday: Human Rights in Malaysia and Criminal Justice (9am-12md lecture time); Field trip to Malaysian Human Rights Commission (2pm-3.20); Wednesday: Islamic Law and Economy (9am-12md lecture time); Field trip to INCEIF (2.3.20) Thursday: Indigenous Law and Protection of the Environment. (whole-day Nilai and surrounding areas). Friday: Free day.	Seminar (19 hr)
Week 05	Monday: The Indonesian Legal System and Governance 9-12; Field Trip: Visit to Sultan's palace, 2-3.30. Tuesday: Human Rights and Criminal Justice 9-12; Field Trip: Visit to Wirogunan Prison 2-3.30. Wednesday: Islamic Law and the Economy 9-12; Field Trip: Religious Court and/or Islamic Bank 2-3.30. Thursday: Adat (Customary Law) and the Environment 9-12; Field trip: Borobudur and/or environmental/adat site 2-3.30. Completion of student feedback survey for this unit of study.	Seminar (19 hr)
Pre-semester	Unit of study content, introduction to Malaysian legal system, introduction to Indonesian legal system, role of law in development, cultural competence issues, health and safety, travel, accommodation and logistics.	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: All students are required to attend 100% of classes to satisfy the pass requirements for this unit. Failure to meet this requirement will result in an Absent Fail grade being recorded as the student’s result for this unit (see The University of Sydney Law School Resolutions: Coursework Awards cl 11).

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Pre-departure reading list:

Law and Development: Yong-Shik Lee, 'Law and Development: Theory and Practice (2022), Routledge (available online from the library)

Indonesia

Gary F Bell, 'Indonesia: The Challenges of Legal Diversity and Law Reform' in E Ann Black and Gary F Bell (eds), Law and Legal Institutions of Asia: Traditions, Adaptations and Innovations (Cambridge University Press, 2011) 262–298

Simon Butt and Tim Lindsey Indonesian Law (OUP, 2018) — Chapters 1, 2 and 4

Malaysia

Salim Farrar and Paul Subramaniam (eds), Law and Justice in Malaysia: 2020 and Beyond, Sweet & Maxwell (Thomson Reuters), Selangor, Malaysia [hard copies in library and e-book from publisher]. See in particular, chapters 1, 2, 4, 5 and 9.

Kevin Tan, 'The Creation of Greater Malaysia: Law, Politics, Ethnicity and Religion', chapter 1, in Andrew Harding and Dian Shah (Eds), Law and Society in Malaysia: Pluralism, Ethnicity and Religion (2018), Routledge (available online in the library).

A more detailed reading list will be available on Canvas, with the majority of readings accessed on the Library eReserve link.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Analyse the historical foundations, sources, religious, and customary contexts of legal systems in Malaysia and Indonesia
LO2. Analyse the interaction between law, politics, economy, culture and religion in Malaysia and Indonesia
LO3. Critically assess the role of law in social, economic, and human development
LO4. Formulate and assess perspectives on public policy
LO5. Apply information and digital literacy skills and communicate complex legal and development concepts to diverse audiences
LO6. Develop cultural competency and engage ethically with diverse perspectives on Indonesian and Malaysian legal systems

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Assessment has been updated.

Additional information

Additional costs

Students are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements to Malaysia for the start of the program, from Malaysia to Indonesia, and then from Indonesia back to Sydney, as well as all airport transfers to and from the airport.

Work, health and safety

As part of participation in the Southeast Asia Field School program, students agree to review the Smart Traveller website for information on Indonesia and Malaysia. We recommend that students visit their doctor before taking this unit of study. There are several matters you should discuss with your doctor, including whether you should be vaccinated. Please note that some vaccinations may need to be administered well in advance of departure in order to be effective. Cities in Southeast Asia are generally very polluted, and if you have any respiratory illnesses, please consult your doctor. Students are not to hire motorbikes during the duration of the program and are advised that any injuries sustained are not covered by The University of Sydney Insurance Policy. Relevant accommodation and course venues are located in busy districts, and extra care must be exercised when crossing roads. Students are also advised to exercise common-sense and caution when out at night.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

LAWS3494: Law and Development in Southeast Asia

Intensive June - July, 2026 [Block mode] - Malaysia

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links