Contributed by Liew Kok Heng, Writer/Editor, Bar Council Secretariat; photos by Muhammad Aliff b Saflis, Administrative Assistant, Bar Council Secretariat; and Mathn Raj s/o Elamurugu
The award ceremony for the Malaysian Bar Lifetime Achievement Award (“MBLAA”) 2023 and 2024 took place on 31 May 2024, at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur. The ceremony honoured the 2023 and 2024 recipients — Hendon Mohamed and the late Dato’ Haji Sulaiman Abdullah, respectively.
Among the distinguished guests were:
- YAA Tun Tengku Maimun bt Tuan Mat, Chief Justice of Malaysia;
- YAA Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abang Iskandar b Abang Hashim, President of the Court of Appeal;
- YA Dato’ Sri Hasnah bt Dato’ Mohammed Hashim, Federal Court Judge;
- YA Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, Federal Court Judge;
- YA Datuk Vazeer Alam b Mydin Meera, Federal Court Judge;
- YA Dato’ Lee Swee Seng, Court of Appeal Judge;
- Tuan Zamri b Bakar, Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia;
- Tan Sri Zainun Ali, retired Federal Court Judge;
- past Presidents of the Malaysian Bar;
- Bar Council members; and
- family and friends of Hendon Mohamed and the late Dato’ Haji Sulaiman Abdullah.
In his welcoming remarks, the President of the Malaysian Bar, Mohamad Ezri b Abdul Wahab, reflected on the formidable responsibilities of the Presidency, emphasising the importance of mentorship and the guidance of past Presidents, such as the celebrated honourees. He shared touching personal anecdotes of Hendon’s appreciation for life’s simple pleasures and her dedication to mentoring young lawyers, and was at one point even overwhelmed by emotion when he spoke about her; and expressed his admiration of Dato’ Haji Sulaiman’s unwavering commitment to principles and integrity, even when dissenting from the majority.
Dato’ Sri M Ramachelvam, Chairperson of the MBLAA Selection Committee, gave an overview of the MBLAA’s legacy since its inception in 2011. To him, the Malaysian Bar is truly blessed and honoured to have outstanding past award recipients such as YM Raja Aziz Addruse, Dato’ Dr Sir Peter Mooney, Dato’ Mahadev Shankar, Dr Radhakrishna Ramani, Dato Seri Utama Karpal Singh s/o Ram Singh, Tan Sri V C George, Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy and Cecil Rajendra, Tan Sri P G Lim, Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan, and G T S Sidhu — luminaries whose fighting spirit for the cause of justice and the rule of law are further exemplified by the two new recipients, Hendon Mohamed and the late Dato’ Haji Sulaiman Abdullah.
Karen Cheah Yee Lynn, the immediate past President of the Malaysian Bar, delivered the citation for Hendon Mohamed, emphasising her pioneering work as the first female Malay lawyer, trailblazing the path for other women lawyers in areas such as criminal law, corporate and company law, mediation, and family law. Notably, during Hendon Mohamed’s tenure, pivotal initiatives to preserve the Bar's autonomy, the formulation of the publicity rules for legal professionals, and the proposal of the Benevolent Fund (precursor to the Bar Council LawCare Fund) were executed. Her enduring impact extends beyond her Presidency, as she continued to contribute to the Bar through mentorship, participation in the Bar Council Ethics Committee, and mediation training.
Hendon Mohamed’s friends, Federal Court Judge, YA Dato’ Sri Hasnah bt Dato’ Mohammed Hashim and former Executive Director of the Bar Council Secretariat, Catherine Eu, accepted the award on her behalf.
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan, past President of the Malaysian Bar (2007–2009), presented the citation for Dato’ Haji Sulaiman, reflecting on his remarkable career and profound influence on the legal profession. She highlighted his role in landmark events and cases such as the 1988 Judicial Crisis, the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis, and his appointment as lead prosecutor in the 2018 SRC International Sdn Bhd case, during which the then-Attorney General of Malaysia, Tommy Thomas, stated in a press conference that Dato’ Haji Sulaiman “is one of the nation’s leading barristers … his eloquence is unmatched, and his intellect second to none … Datuk Sulaiman has impeccable integrity, and is a principled lawyer”.
Huzir Sulaiman, Dato’ Haji Sulaiman’s son and renowned theatre personality, accepted the award on behalf of his late father, sharing an intimate glimpse of his late father in his familial life, and as a beloved father figure to all Members of the Bar.
The ceremony concluded with a high tea for all the invited guests. The MBLAA ceremony stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of exceptional individuals within the legal community, inspiring current and future Members of the Bar to strive for excellence and uphold the principles of justice and integrity.
Please click on the following links to view the:
(2) Acceptance Speech by Huzir Sulaiman;
(3) Video on Sulaiman Abdullah;
(4) Video on Hendon Mohamed; and
(5) Malaysian Bar Lifetime Achievement Award 2023/24 Commemorative Booklet.