KUALA LUMPUR – Members of the legal fraternity will remember former lord president Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas as a judge who came up with sound rulings that shaped Malaysia’s legal framework.
Others recall him as the leader of the judiciary who fought to uphold its independence during the 1998 constitutional crisis.
It is no surprise, then, that tributes poured in following his death today.
“Condolences to the family of Tun Salleh Abas, the former chief justice who passed away this morning.
“May his soul be placed among the faithful,” said former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a Facebook post.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin thanked the late Salleh for his services to the judiciary.
“I want to express sadness over the passing of Tun Dr Mohamed Salleh Abas, the former chief justice.
“My family and I extend our condolences to his family. May they be courageous during this difficult time.
“The government is thankful for his contributions in protecting the integrity of the judiciary while he was in service.”
Subang Jaya MP Wong Chen tweeted: “My deepest condolences to the family of Tun Salleh Abas on his passing from Covid-19 today. While I have never met him, his passing has triggered many personal memories for me this cold morning.”
Pematang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said Salleh was a “guardian” of the judiciary.
“Our former lord president of the Supreme Court, guardian of our judiciary. May Allah SWT place him among the Righteous in Jannatul Firdaus, and provide his family with much strength at this time.”
Lawyer and Muda founder Lim Wei Jiet said: “Deepest condolences. In 1988, Tun Salleh Abas was unceremoniously removed as lord president of the Supreme Court. In the 1980s, the Malaysian judiciary was respected throughout the common law. This dark episode bludgeoned our judiciary and it never fully recovered, even until today.”
Other members of the legal fraternity who paid tribute include Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
“Allahyarham Tun 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,” she said in a statement.
Former chief justice Tun Md Raus Sharif took the opportunity to remind the public about Salleh’s contributions to the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the judiciary, such as his numerous 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.”
Tun Arifin Zakaria, also a former chief justice, remembers Salleh’s legal prowess and the respect he got.
Ariffin said that he met Salleh after completing his studies abroad in 1974, and convinced the latter to join the judiciary.
“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.”
Former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali remembers Salleh as his superior during his time in office.
He described Salleh as tough, and yet, kind-hearted.
Apandi said when Salleh was called to face a tribunal to remove him, the latter refused to attend, stating that the body was not properly constituted.
“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 among the solihin (pious).”
Former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram said Salleh’s death is a loss to the legal profession.
He said Salleh’s service in the Attorney-General’s Chambers was truly professional, and politicians feared him.
“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,” Gopal told Bernama.
Laywer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah remembers Salleh as a man who was easy to consult and would always be ready to discuss legal issues.
“I was the only junior officer who could see Tun to consult. Tun would be all ears and heart to discuss legal issues. I can say with conviction that Tun 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 Tun when I joined the Attorney-General’s Chambers in 1977 as a deputy public prosecutor. I was given a room in the same wing as the rest of the DPPs. We were then housed in the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
“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 Attorney-General’s Chambers. He would do his own research, and he would be at the law library late, especially on big cases.” – The Vibes, January 16, 2021
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