KUALA TERENGGANU – The late Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas was firm in all matters, especially when taking action against government officials involved in misconduct and mismanagement.
Terengganu Speaker Datuk Yahaya Ali, recalling his memories of the former lord president of the Federal Court throughout his service with the state government, said Salleh could send shivers down the spine of those who committed such offences.
Salleh, 91, who breathed his last at 3.20am today at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital here following a bout with pneumonia, was Hisbah and Special Duties Committee chairman when Terengganu was under PAS rule from 1999 until 2004.
Yahaya told Bernama that Salleh was tasked with ensuring the system of checks and balances was in place in the state administration.
“He was very firm. All complaints from the public related to state government services were given serious attention. Any government official who committed misconduct would feel intense fear when called up by Salleh.
“As such, there was a transparent administration because everyone, especially state government officials and staff, understood the consequences if they took their jobs lightly or were not trustworthy.”
Former Kuala Terengganu MP Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut said PAS took some time to persuade Salleh to contest in the Jerteh state seat in the 1999 general election.
“After convincing him that his service was needed and his vast experience in the legal field would be advantageous to the state, he finally relented, and won in the elections.
“Throughout my time in the executive council working alongside Salleh, he was like a father, often advising us ‘young’ representatives to carry out our duties with honesty and integrity.”
Despite the bitter experience of being dismissed as lord president, he said, Salleh hardly complained, and remained humble.
“Once, when I was onstage during a ceramah in Rusila, Marang, I saw him among the crowd, sitting on newspapers laid out on the ground, listening intently. I informed (PAS president) Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang about this.
“I went down to tell him to join us onstage, as requested by Hadi, but he politely refused, saying he came to listen to the talk, and if he was onstage, he would be required to give a talk.” – Bernama, January 16, 2021
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