Dr May Cheong

Dr May Cheong

Professor

 

  • PhD (Sydney): Unfair Contracts in Malaysia
  • LLM (NUS)
  • LLB (Hons) (Malaya)
  • Diploma in Shariah Law and Practice (IIUM)
  • Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (ACU)
  • Fellowship (FHEA) 

 

 

 

Law & Justice
School of Private & Commercial Law

May is an Associate Professor in the School of Private and Commercial Law, Faculty of Law and Justice. Her main research areas are contract law, commercial law, consumer law, unfair contracts, remedies, restitution/unjust enrichment and comparative Asian law. May’s other research interest is competition law particularly on the legal and regulatory frameworks of competition law regimes in ASEAN member states. May has taught a wide range of subjects including principles of private law, contracts, consumer protection, economic torts and unfair contracts. She has supervised PhD and LLM candidates in private law and is currently co-supervising a PhD candidate on smart contracts.   

May is also an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Law, Multimedia University Malaysia and was formerly Deputy Head of School, Thomas More Law School, Australian Catholic University. May was also formerly a Professor and Dean at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, and had previously practiced as a commercial litigation lawyer at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after being admitted as an Advocate & Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.

May is author of Australian Contract Law: Principles and Cases (Lawbook Co, 2020) and Contract Law in Malaysia (Sweet & Maxwell Asia, 2010). She is also the co-author with Yin Harn Lee, of Civil Remedies (Sweet & Maxwell Asia, 2nd ed, 2016) and with Rafiah Salim, of Evidence Law in Malaysia and Singapore: Cases and Commentary (Lexis Nexis Malaysia, 2013). May has also contributed to chapters in the Studies in the Contract Laws of Asia series published by Oxford University Press, and to chapters on competition law in The Regionalisation of Competition Law and Policy within the ASEAN Economic Community (Cambridge University Press, 2018) and in the Research Handbook on Asian Competition Law (Edward Elgar). She has written numerous peer-reviewed articles on contract and consumer law in publications including Journal of Contract Law and Competition and Consumer Law Journal, and on gender issues published in the Journal of Law and Society and Feminist Legal Studies. 

 

Location
Room 364 Law & Justice Building (F8) UNSW Sydney Kensington NSW 2052 Australia
  • Books | 2020
    Cheong MF, 2020, Australian Contract Law Principles and Cases
    Books | 2016
    Cheong M; Lee YH, 2016, • Civil Remedies, Sweet & Maxwell Malaysia, Malaysia
    Books | 2013
    Salim R; Cheong M, 2013, • Evidence Law in Malaysia and Singapore: Cases and Commentary, Lexis-Nexis, Kuala Lumpur
    Books | 2010
    Cheong MF, 2010, Contract Law in Malaysia, Thomson Reuters, Sweet & Maxwell Asia, Malaysia, http://www.sweetandmaxwellasia.com.my/products/prod_spec.asp?cvalue=a25a55a124a55&ProdId=2112
    Books | 2004
    Cheong M, 2004, • Remedi-Remedi Bagi Kemungkiran Kontrak Di Malaysia (Translated: Remedies for Breach of Contract in Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Book Chapters | 2022
    Cheong M; Lee YH, 2022, '• Contracts Resulting from Threats and Unfair Exploitation: The Position under Malaysian Contract Law', in Chen-Wishart M; Vogenaur S; Hiroo S (ed.), Studies in the Contract Laws of Asia, Vol IV: Invalidity of Contract, Oxford University Press, United Kingdom
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Cheong MF; Teoh JBC; Khoo ELE, 2020, 'Legal transplant: giving life to Malaysia’s competition regime', in Research Handbook on Asian Competition Law, pp. 181 - 208, http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781785361838.00024
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Cheong MF, 2019, 'Contractual Fairness: Statutory Innovation and Statutory Interpretation', in Vines P; Donald MS (ed.), Statutory Interpretation in Private Law, Federation Press, Sydney, pp. 185 - 206
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Wisuttisak P; Cheong MF, 2018, 'Competition law, state-owned enterprises and regional market integration in ASEAN', in Ong B (ed.), The Regionalisation of Competition Law and Policy within the ASEAN Economic Community, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, pp. 94 - 139, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/9781108182058.006
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Cheong M; Yin Harn L, 2016, 'Specific Remedies and Money Awards in the Protection of the Performance Interest under Malaysian Contract Law', in Chen-Wishart M; Loke A; Ong B (ed.), Studies in the Contract Laws of Asia, Remedies for Breach of Contract, Oxford University Press, United Kingdom
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Cheong M; Nair P, 2014, 'Competitive Neutrality in Malaysia's Telecommunications Industry', in Competitive Neutrality and its Application in Selected Developing Countries (UNCTAD Research Partnership Platform Publication Series
    Book Chapters | 2013
    Cheong MF; Lee YH, 2013, 'Chapter 7: Malaysia and Singapore', in The Political Economy of Competition Law in Asia, Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 215 - 250, http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781781001684.00011
    Book Chapters | 2013
    Cheong MF; Lee YH, 2013, 'Malaysia and Singapore', in Williams M (ed.), The Political Economy of Competition Law in Asia, Edward Elgar, UK, pp. 215 - 250
    Book Chapters | 2008
    Cheong M, 2008, 'Exclusion Clauses in Malaysia: The Need for Reform’', in Cheong MF; Thambapillay S; Yong CM (ed.), Selected Issues in the Development of Malaysian Law, Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, Malaysia
    Book Chapters | 2008
    Cheong M, 2008, 'The Impact of the English, Canadian and Australian Doctrine of Unconscionability on Malaysia', in Syed Ahmad SS (ed.), Developments in Malaysian Law - Selected Essays, Penerbit Universiti Malaya, Malaysia
    Book Chapters | 2007
    Cheong M, 2007, 'A Malaysian Doctrine of Inequality of Bargaining Power and Unconscionability After Saad Marwi?', in Tan KJ; Sharom A (ed.), Developments in Singapore and Malaysian Law
    Book Chapters | 2007
    Cheong M, 2007, 'Contract Law', in Tay PS; Balan S (ed.), Survey of Malaysian Law 2006, Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Book Chapters | 2006
    Cheong M, 2006, 'E-Commerce in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges in the Formation of Contracts', in Khaw LT; Syed Ahmad SS (ed.), ICT: Its Impact on Selected Areas of the Law, University of Malaya Press, Malaysia
    Book Chapters | 2006
    Cheong M, 2006, 'Regulating Competition in Malaysia: The Policy and the Law', in Lee C; Cheong MF (ed.), Competition Policy in Asia: Models and Issues, Faculty of Economics & Administration and Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Book Chapters | 1999
    Cheong M, 1999, 'Commercial Law and Legal Culture in Malaysia', in Tay A (ed.), East Asia - Human Rights, Nation Building, Trade, Nomus Verlagsgellsckaff
    Book Chapters | 1995
    Cheong M, 1995, 'Banking and Negotiable Instruments', in Survey of Malaysian Law 1993, Malayan Law Journal, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Book Chapters | 1992
    Cheong M, 1992, 'The Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989 and the Offshore Banking Act 1990', in Development in Malaysian Law, Pelanduk Publications, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Edited Books | 2008
    Cheong M; Thambapillay S; Yong CM, (eds.), 2008, • Selected Issues in the Development of Malaysian Law, Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Edited Books | 2006
    Cheong M; Lee C, (ed.), 2006, • Competition Policy in Asia: Models and Issues, Faculty of Economics & Administration and Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Edited Books | 1996
    Cheong MF, (ed.), 1996, • The Annotated Statutes of Malaysia: Bills of Exchange Act 1949 (Act 204) (Revised-1978)
  • Journal articles | 2023
    Cheong M; Dhankar D; Star S, 2023, 'Legal Transplantation of Minors’ Contracts in India and Malaysia: Weak Watson and a ‘Misfitted’ Transplant’', Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal, 23, pp. 17 - 43, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14729342.2023.2189359
    Journal articles | 2023
    Cheong M; Tan PM, 2023, 'The New Law on Penalties in Malaysia: The Impact of Cubic Electronics After Cavendish Square', Journal of Contract Law
    Journal articles | 2023
    Cheong MF; Ola K; Macchia GLL; Lam I, 2023, 'Exploring Financial Disengagement of Indigenous Australians: Culture Matters', Indigenous Law Journal, 19, pp. 45 - 70, https://ilj.law.utoronto.ca/volume-19-issue-1-2023
    Journal articles | 2023
    Cheong MF, 2023, 'Implication of Terms in Informal Contracts', Contract and Commercial Law Review, 1, pp. 114 - 119
    Journal articles | 2022
    Chen V; Welsh M; Cheong MF, 2022, 'Gender diversity on Malaysian corporate boards: a law and social movements perspective', Journal of Law and Society, 49, pp. 23 - 47, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jols.12341
    Journal articles | 2022
    Huang J; Cheong MF, 2022, 'Marriage Transmitted Debt in the Chinese Civil Code: The Beginning of a Solution Rather than the End', Feminist Legal Studies, 30, pp. 1 - 27, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10691-021-09472-4
    Journal articles | 2021
    Cheong MF, 2021, 'Art Fraud and Market Failure in the Art Market: A Need for Multiple Approaches', Competition and Consumer Law Journal, 28, pp. 26 - 47, https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/agispt.20210518046952
    Journal articles | 2018
    Cheong MF; Ding K, 2018, 'From Unconscionability to Unfairness: A Critique of Hong Kong's Unconscionable Contracts Ordinance with Australian Developments', Journal of Contract Law, pp. 118 - 145
    Journal articles | 2018
    Cheong MF, 2018, 'Purposive Approach and Extrinsic Material in Statutory Interpretation: Developments in Australia and Malaysia', Journal of the Malaysian Judiciary, pp. 219 - 251
    Journal articles | 2015
    Cheong M; Ji V, 2015, 'Contracting Pitfalls in “Off the Plan” Contracts in New South Wales', Competition and Consumer Law News 68 - 71
    Journal articles | 2013
    Cheong M, 2013, 'Competition Law Developments in Malaysia', (2013) 1 CPI Antitrust Chronicle
    Journal articles | 2012
    May FC, 2012, 'Enforcement of Singapore's Competition Act 2004: Financial Penalties for Infringement of Section 34 Prohibition on Anti-competitive Agreements', World Competition: law and economics review, 35, pp. 301 - 324
    Journal articles | 2011
    Cheong M, 2011, 'A New Catalyst For Malaysia: The Competition Act 2010', [2011] The Law Review 107-123
    Journal articles | 2011
    Cheong M, 2011, 'Goals of Public Procurement: A Fine Balancing Act for Malaysia', (2011) 38(1) Journal of Malaysian and Comparative Law 9-24
    Journal articles | 2011
    Cheong MF, 2011, 'State relations in the telecommunications industry in Malaysia', Macquarie Journal of Business Law, 8, pp. 279 - 299, http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=758469022994514;res=IELBUS
    Journal articles | 2009
    Cheong M; Yong CM, 2009, 'Competition Law Perspectives of the Water Services Industry in Malaysia', [2009] LAWASIA Journal 112-126
    Journal articles | 2009
    Cheong M, 2009, 'A New Catalyst For Malaysia: The Competition Act 2010', (2009) 25 Journal of Contract Law 244-71
    Journal articles | 2009
    Cheong M, 2009, 'Regulation of the Electricity Industry in Malaysia', (2009) 54(1) The Antitrust Bulletin 67-86
    Journal articles | 2009
    Fong CM, 2009, 'Competition and Regulation of the Electricity Industry in Malaysia', Antitrust Bulletin, 54, pp. 67 - 86, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0003603X0905400103
    Journal articles | 2007
    Cheong M, 2007, 'The Role of Curriculum in Malaysian Legal Education', (2007) 30(2) Masalah Pendidikan 7-18
    Journal articles | 2006
    Cheong M, 2006, 'Interaction of the Doctrines of Undue Influence and Unconscionability in Malaysia: A Merger or Separate Development?', [2006] The Law Review 220-34
    Journal articles | 2005
    Cheong M, 2005, 'A Doctrine of Inequality of Bargaining Power and Unconscionability After Saad Marwi?', [2005] 4 Malayan Law Journal i-xii
    Journal articles | 2005
    Cheong M, 2005, 'Legal Position in Relation to Competition in Malaysia', [2005] The Law Review 434-48
    Journal articles | 2005
    Cheong M, 2005, 'Restitutitonary Developments under Part VI, Malaysian Contracts Act 1950', (2005) Asian Law 24-42
    Journal articles | 1999
    Cheong M, 1999, 'Estoppel in Boustead's Case: A Move Away From Reliance Towards Unconscionability', (1999) Journal of Malaysian and Comparative Law 71-8
    Journal articles | 1993
    Cheong M, 1993, 'Banking Secrecy in Malaysia', (1993) Journal of Malaysian and Comparative Law 157-82.
  • Conference Presentations | 2023
    Cheong M; Dhankar D; Star S, 2023, 'Legal Transplantation and Judicial Interpretation of Minors Contract in India and Malaysia: Protecting or Precluding Minors', presented at Contemporary Common Law Developments in Contract Law, University of Malaya, Malaysia, 04 February 2023
    Other | 2023
    Cheong MF; Manwaring K; Brady M, 2023, Submission to Treasury on protecting consumers from unfair trading practices: Consultation Regulation Impact Statement, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/28681
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Cheong M, 2021, 'Remedies for Purchasers of Forged Art: The Potential in Section 18 Australian Consumer Law', presented at Australian Consumer Law Roundtable, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney, 01 December 2021
    Reports | 2021
    Cheong M, 2021, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Visual Arts and Craft
    Reports | 2012
    Cheong M; Tan PM, 2012, Privity of Contract and Third Party Rights, Review of Australian Contract Law
    Reports | 2012
    Cheong M, 2012, Australian Contract Law in the Asian Century
    Theses / Dissertations | 1999
    Cheong M, 1999, Unfair Contracts In Malaysia, University of Sydney

  • The Australian Catholic University Teaching Development Grant (2021) on Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge and Perspectives in the Law Curriculum (with Dr Joe Campana)

  • 2021: recipient of the Australian Catholic University Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
  • 2021: recipient of the Faculty of Law and Business, Australian Catholic University Innovation Excellence Award 

My research areas are contract law, commercial law, consumer law, unfair contracts, remedies and comparative Asian law (including legal transplantation) and has extended to smart contracts and gender issues. My other research interest is competition law particularly on the legal and regulatory frameworks of competition law regimes in ASEAN member states. 

My current research focuses on legal transplantation of colonial legislation (of English law) and its continuing impact to the contract laws in India and Malaysia (the Indian Contract Act 1872 and the Malaysian Contracts Act 1950). Another subject of my research is gender equality which I have jointly published from perspectives of women directors in Malaysia, and marriage transmitted debts impacting women in China. 

My Research Supervision

Smart Contracts, PhD candidate