PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has paid tribute to the late Sulaiman Abdullah, describing him as not just a lawyer, but also a close friend who stood by him and his family during dark and difficult times.
In a posting on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Anwar recalled Sulaiman, who was one of his lawyers in his 1998 abuse of power and sexual misconduct cases.
“His strong convictions and conscience towards the principles of justice and human rights are indisputable. I was deeply affected upon receiving this news while still in Tokyo for a work visit,” he said.
Sulaiman, a former Bar president, was 77 when he passed away yesterday. His death was announced by his son, Huzir.
Sulaiman notably served as the lead prosecutor in Najib Razak’s 2018 SRC International Sdn Bhd trial.
His legal expertise extended to representing various individuals and the state in prominent cases, ranging from the Catholic Church’s challenge on the use of the word “Allah” to constitutional challenges on issues like Lina Joy’s MyKad, and the Negeri Sembilan state shariah enactment banning cross-dressing by three transgenders.
In a lengthy Facebook post, Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor, another former Bar president, said Sulaiman had been a friend of his family.
“Haji (Sulaiman) was very fond of my twin kids. Whenever I visited him, I would take back a very generous ‘angpau’ for them,” said Fareed.
“He was so happy that they both did well in SPM and managed to enter college to do their chosen courses.”
Fareed also credited Sulaiman with nominating him for various positions within the Bar Council: “I was so honoured then and I still am.”
Meanwhile, senior lawyer SN Nair told FMT that Sulaiman had possessed a sharp legal mind.
“One of my mentors from Anwar’s 1998 trials. A true comrade in law,” he added.
Another prominent lawyer, Roger Tan, described Sulaiman as a “giant, doyen, and legend” of the Malaysian Bar.
Reflecting on their shared years on the Bar Council, Tan lauded Sulaiman’s fearlessness in addressing controversial issues within Bar meetings and beyond.
“Only he had the stature to put in place and reprimand other senior lawyers who deviated from these with his wit and impeccable command of the English language,” he said.
Despite facing health challenges in later years, Tan said Sulaiman had remained committed to the Bar’s struggles and objectives.
“He will be deeply missed and his passing is a great loss to the legal profession and administration of justice in this country.” - FMT
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