The legal fraternity has paid tribute to former lord president Mohamed Salleh Abas, who died today at the age of 92.
He died of pneumonia at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ), Kuala Terengganu, at 3.20am.
In sharing her thoughts, Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat described his demise as a big loss to the legal profession.
"Allahyarham (the late) Mohamed Salleh contributed immensely to the Malaysian judiciary during his time as lord president. His demise is indeed a great loss to the judicial fraternity specifically and the nation as a whole,” Tengku Maimun said in a media statement.
Meanwhile, former chief justice Md Raus Sharif said the late Salleh was a towering Malaysian and that his many accomplishments and contributions to the country were well documented, in particular when he was the solicitor-general at the Attorney-General's Chambers.
Raus said as a Supreme Court (now Federal Court) judge and later as the lord president (now known as chief justice), Salleh he had written a number of landmark judgments.
"His judgments which reflected his judicial independence accompanied by legal clarity and intellectual analysis constitute a major contribution to Malaysian jurisprudence and justice system. My condolences to the family of the late Tun, " he said.
Sharing the same thoughts, former chief justice Arifin Zakaria said Salleh was known for his dedication and sharp legal mind and also was highly respected by those who had served under him.
"As a judge and subsequently as the lord president, he presided over a number of landmark cases and after his removal from the office of lord president he continued to serve as a legal practitioner.
"His passing will be felt not only among the legal fraternity but by all those who knew him," he said, adding that he was saddened by the news of his passing this morning.
Arifin said he first met Salleh in 1974 after he returned from his studies abroad and the latter encouraged him to join the legal and judicial service, which he did.
Recalling his days working with Salleh, former chief justice Zaki Azmi said Allahyarham was his boss and that he was an honest person and a very knowledgeable one.
"Back when I was at the Attorney-General's Chambers, everyone was frightened of him. Although he was a strict man, I admired and respected him," he said.
Former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali said Salleh was his mentor and his boss when he was then the solicitor-general.
"Though he was a tough boss, he was a very good man and had a kind heart. I remember requesting him to preside over the ceremony of my call to the Malaysian Bar in 1982. He was then a Supreme Court judge but he obliged and came down to sit as High Court Judge in Kuala Terengganu.
"Later, when he was facing a tribunal to remove him, I personally called him and advised him to attend the tribunal. He refused and took a defiant stand that the tribunal was not properly constituted. Later on, as history unfolded, he was given due justice and his position was restored and he was compensated," he said.
Apandi also described Salleh as a man of principles, honest, of highest integrity and pious.
"It was a privilege for me to know him and serve under him. We have lost a true honest man. May Allah bless his Roh (soul) and place him amongst the solihin (pious)," he added.
Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram said Salleh's passing leaves a huge vacuum in the legal profession.
Sri Ram said that when Salleh was solicitor-general, he ran the AGC in a professional manner as no politician dared to impose his will on any member of chambers.
"When he was on the bench he was very conservative when it came to personal liberty and freedom of speech. As far as I can recall, he always protected the executive from any challenge by a citizen.
"His judgment in Government of Malaysia v Lim Kit Siang continues to pose a huge problem for citizens who want to challenge the legality of executive action. He returned to practice and was a formidable advocate. Having appeared against him in both civil and criminal cases, I can say with confidence that he was a brilliant lawyer. He will be sorely missed," said the retired judge.
Prominent lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (above) described Salleh as a hardworking man, very clever but conservative and strict.
"I was the only junior officer who could see him to consult. He would be all ears and heart to discuss legal issues. I can say with conviction that he was incorruptible, the most honest man I have ever dealt with in my entire life.
"He trained many to have moral courage and dignity. He was a small-sized man, but he was a giant in law and justice. I got to know him when I joined the AGC in 1977 as a deputy public prosecutor. I was given a room in the same wing as the rest of the deputy public prosecutors. We were then housed in the Sultan Abdul Samad building( where the clock tower is, opposite the Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur).
"He was the solicitor-general then. I would see him literally daily as his office was at the perimeter of the law library of the AGC. He would do his own research and he would be at the law library late especially on big cases," he said.
- Bernama
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