KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Two retired Federal Court judges have been accepted as advocates and solicitors of the High Court of Malaya.
The two are former Chief Judges of Malaya Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed and Datuk Seri Mohd Zawawi Mohd Salleh.
High Court judge Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said after hearing the applications from the petitioners, Azahar and Mohd Zawawi, who requested to be accepted and registered as advocates and solicitors of the High Court of Malaya, the court accepted both as advocates and solicitors.
“I also order that Azahar and Mohd Zawawi and their acceptance as advocates and solicitors be registered by the registrar,” the judge said.
When congratulating the duo, the judge described the two senior judges as ‘vintage cars’ as they had achieved far greater mileage than the others in the courtroom.
“On occasions like this, I would usually impart words of wisdom to those admitted to the Bar as advocates and Solicitors. I would prepare my speech and ponder how best to advise them on their impending journey as lawyers.
“But I find it difficult on this occasion. How do I give words of wisdom and advice to them, who is far wiser and more experienced than I am? How do you lecture those you consider your mentors?
“I came to the inevitable conclusion that you do not. You acknowledge them. They both have achieved far greater mileage than I or most of us here in this courtroom. If they were cars, they would be vintage cars…you do not race against vintage cars.
“Provided somebody else is driving, you will ask the driver to slow down, unleash your mobile phone camera and start snapping loads and loads of pictures. In short, it is simply a sight that fills us with awe and reverence,” said the judge, adding that Azahar and Mohd Zawawi were larger-than-life figures in the judiciary.
Mohd Zawawi retired in June while Azahar retired last week.
Earlier, lawyer proposer Azmi, who is also Azahar’s son, read out Azahar’s petition which stated that the petitioner, who was born in Johor in 1956, had a long career with the judicial and legal services since 1980 and on August 8, 2019, he was appointed as the Chief Judge of Malaya.
Meanwhile, lawyer proposer Salim Bashir introduced Mohd Zawawi by presenting the latter’s background of being born in 1956 in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, and was no stranger to the legal and judicial systems as he had been in the judicial service for 43 years.
“The petitioner read law at the University of Malaya and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and obtained a Masters in Law from Bristol University, United Kingdom. He served as a superior court judge for 15 years,” said the counsel.
At today’s ceremony, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun said that Azahar had penned landmark judgments, involving among others, constitutional law, land law and company law.
On Mohd Zawawi, Idrus stated that he had made erudite observations in criminal law, constitutional law and Islamic banking.
— Bernama
