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©The Star (Used by permission)
by Shaila Koshy

KUALA LUMPUR: The late Tan Sri Abdul Malek Ahmad should have been made Chief Justice for his principles and steadfast adherence to fair play and justice, according to a retired Court of Appeal judge.

“The late Malek was an uncommon Malaysian, whose most important characteristic was his natural and tremendous sense of fair play and his unquestioned integrity,” said Datuk K.C Vohrah at a remembrance event organised by Universiti Malaya and the Malaysian Inner Temple Alumni Association in memory of the former President of the Court of Appeal who died on May 31 last year.

Malek was the university pro-chancellor and alumni president at his demise at the age of 64.

Vohrah, now a Suhakam commissioner, said Malek refused to succumb to doing what was wrong and even rebuffed two top judges who tried to make him to do that.

Chief Justice Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamed described Malek’s life as characterised by two opposing words – “early” and “late”.

“He began his career early (as magistrate at 21). He got married late (at 37 in 1981). He got his promotion as President of Court of Appeal late. He passed away early.”

He related the time when Malek – who was ill by March 2006 – visited him in hospital after his (Hamid’s) open-heart surgery out of concern for the latter’s position in the judiciary.

“Judges lost a brother who was a pleasure to sit with and a friend who was always full of laughter. The country lost an honest judge. I lost Malek,” he said.

Acting alumni president and Court of Appeal judge Datuk James Foong said Malek’s greatest distinction lay in his personal integrity and it was greatly hoped when he was made Court of Appeal president that his qualities would enhance the judiciary’s image and integrity.

“Alas, such demands were too overwhelming, expectations too great, the forces in opposition too strong and the powers he had too limited.”

Among others who paid tribute to Malek were Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Bar Council chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan and the university’s board of directors chairman Tan Sri Arshad Ayub.

Also at the event were the Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, who is the university’s pro-chancellor, Perak Raja Puan Besar Tuanku Zara Salim, Malek’s widow Puan Sri Roziah Sheikh Mohamed and her six children.

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