KOTA BHARU, Fri: Datuk HL Wrigglesworth, the most senior member of the Malaysian Bar, passed away early this morning. He was 88.
According to his close friend, lawyer Benedict Cheang, Wrigglesworth succumbed to his injuries after being robbed and attacked in his home last Friday. During the robbery, the old but energetic lawyer was pushed and he fell. He was then admitted to the Hospital Pakar Perdana where he died this morning at about 4.50.
A Malaysian citizen, Wrigglesworth was called to the Malaysian Bar on 7 October 1948 after being admitted to the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, London.
On March 2, the Kelantan Bar celebrated his 88th birthday after the conclusion of its annual general meeting. He had always lived in Kelantan and had even authored a book detailing the Japanese Occupation in Kelantan in 1941.
"The Kelantan Bar is saddened by the demise of our most senior and well–known member," said Indran Rajalingam, the Kelanatan State Bar Representative.
FLASHBACK: The Kelantan Bar celebrated Wrigglesworth's 88th birthday after its AGM on March 2. |
The funeral service will be held at his residence at Lot 772–A, Taman Uda Murni, Jalan Seroja, 15400 Kota Bharu at 11 a.m. tomorrow. The Web Reporter learns that he will be buried within the compound of his house. In fact, the funeral arrangements are being made by his close friends as Wrigglesworth was a bachelor and his relatives are residing in Britain.
Wrigglesworth was a Chairman of the Kelantan Bar for many years. He was also a member of the Bar Council for 30 years, and had always taken a strong interest in the affairs of the Bar and the administration of justice in this country.
In 2002, incensed by the Federal Court's dismissal of the former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal against his conviction and six–year sentence for corrupt practices, Wrigglesworth called on the Bar Council to immediately convene an extraordinary general meeting to consider what could be done about the unsatisfactory state of the judiciary which he described to be “worse than in 1988 when the judges did nothing to help the judiciary which consequently fell into worldwide disrepute”. He was quoted to have said:
“There should be another EGM as I cannot believe that the majority of the Malaysian Bar are prepared to accept this appalling situation and am confident that they would insist upon some radical changes.
“It is important for the Bar Council to do something about the present situation.
“(In 1988) the Malaysian Bar rose to the occasion magnificently when it passed important resolutions by 1,002 votes to nil.
“This established the high international reputation that the Malaysian Bar has enjoyed for the past 14 years, but unless we take immediate action, our reputation will sink to the depths of that of the judiciary.”
Members may post their tributes and condolence messages below.
Related stories:
Kelantanese bid farewell to Wrigglesworth
Mendiang H.R. Wrigglesworth disenangi masyarakat Kelantan
Bar Council honours nation's oldest lawyer
{moscomment}