Malacca, Mon: A reference was held last Friday at the High Court here in memory of two deceased members of the Malacca Bar.
The two deceased members are Allahyarham Mohd. Hishamuddin bin Abd. Manap and the late P. Ramakrishnan Narayanan. Allahyarham Mohd. Hishamuddin passed away peacefully on 17 November 2003 at the age of 32 after battling cancer for more than a year. The late P. Ramakrishnan Narayanan passed away on 16 August 2004 at the age of 42 due to a road accident.
Justice Datuk Wira Low Hop Bing presided over the reference. The other High Court Judge in Malacca, Justice Dato’ Hj. Abu Samah bin Nordin, was also present.
The reference commenced with a speech by Aloysius Ng Chee Seng, the Chairman of the Malacca Bar Committee. In his speech, Ng commended the contribution and legacy left behind by the two deceased members. As the deceased members departed at relatively young ages, Ng hoped that the families of the deceased would be able to find solace in the words of Byron, “Whom the Gods love die young”.
Yeo Yang Poh, the President of the Malaysian Bar, also gave a speech and said that a reference such as this is an occasion for us to take a step back from our busy lives and to reflect on the meaning and significance of our work as lawyers and judicial officers.
Khairil Aznan bin Azizi, a very close friend to Allahyarham Mohd. Hishamuddin, gave a speech in memory of the deceased. He said the deceased had a great sense of humour and was always jovial. His laughter was infectious and he never failed to put a smile on someone’s face. Yet, he was always a fighter in court and looked adversity in the eye and never wavered in the stand he took. As Encik Khairil got to the end of his speech, he was fighting back his tears and said that the deceased will be sorely missed by family and friends who will always remember his kindness and generosity.
Yap Koon Roy, an ex–classmate of the late P. Ramakrishnan, said the deceased had an unquenched passion for pursuing knowledge. The deceased had an outstanding performance while studying law and had been conferred a number of academic prizes. In the midst of his busy career, the deceased had lectured the University of London (LLB) Programme in Kuala Lumpur and Malacca on a part time basis. Yap added that the deceased left behind a legacy of kindness and selflessness for all to be proud of, a reminder that the gifts we possess are not gifts unless shared with others.
Roziza binti Sidek, the Deputy Public Prosecutor who represented the Attorney General and the Malacca State Legal Adviser, said in her speech that the reference is a special occasion to remember the two deceased members and expressed condolences to the families of the two deceased members.
Justice Datuk Wira Low Hop Bing in His Lordship’s speech noted that the two deceased members had helped in no small measure in shaping the legal, educational, economic and social landscape of our society and had certainly established themselves as excellent role models, both in the legal circle and beyond. His Lordship said that the respective families of the deceased members have lost a great father and stout leader, the Malaysian Bar has lost two learned members of the profession, while the court has lost two fair minded advocates. They shall long be remembered for their commendable contributions to society and country, for their articulate advocacy and sound submissions in court. He then directed that the record of the proceedings be kept in the archives of the court and a copy be extended to the bereaved families.
Present too were Normah binti Zainal Abidin, the mother to Allahyarham Mohd. Hishamuddin and Sallaja Subramaniam, the widow to the late P. Ramakrishnan Narayanan.
In conjunction with the reference, the Malacca Bar Committee had produced dossiers in the form of a book in memory of the two deceased members. The book noted that Allahyarham Mohd. Hishamuddin first practised as a legal assistant at Messrs Nathan & Associates and then at Messrs Ibrahim Moideen Rama & Partners, both in Seremban, before moving to Melaka sometime in 1995 to join Messrs Nordin Hamid & Co where he was made a partner on 1 August 2000. On 1 March 2003, he practised as a partner at Messrs Abdul Aziz Rahim & Co and ceased practice on 30 June 2003 when his illness was no longer bearable. He was the Secretary of the Malacca Bar for the year 1998/1999 and a member of the Malacca Bar Committee since 2002 until his demise. Meanwhile, the late P. Ramakrishnan started his legal career in Kuala Lumpur in 1987, by chambering at Messrs Shearn Delamore & Co and stayed on as legal assistant until 1990. He returned to Melaka and joined Messrs Abdul Rahman Saad & Associates and in late 1990 he joined Messrs Murphy & Dunbar where he was until 1995. Thereafter, from 1995 until 2004 he joined Messrs GTS & Americk Sidhu, Kota Bahru branch. Subsequently in April 2004, Messrs GTS & Americk Sidhu, Kota Bahru branch became Messrs Rama Maziana & Partners and a branch office was opened in Malacca. He was the Chairman of the Kelantan Legal Aid Committee and was responsible for conducting several Legal Aid/ Law Awareness Campaign in that state.
The reference was well attended by the family members, relatives and friends of the two deceased members and the members of the Bar who packed the courtroom. It was a significant occasion to reflect on the legacy left behind by the two deceased members.
It was also a reminder to everyone present that the enduring qualities of kindness, compassion, generosity and a passion for justice and truth will be cherished by others even after one departs from this life.
Relatives of Allahyarham Mohd. Hishamuddin. | Widow (right) of the late P. Ramakrishnan. |
The Bench. |
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