KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — Former chief justice Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, who passed away yesterday aged 86, was a highly esteemed figure in the judiciary and legal realm, notably recognised as the first serving lawyer to hold the position of Chief Justice.
Born in Arau, Perlis, he served in the judiciary for 20 years before retiring in March 2003. He received his early education at Sekolah Melayu, Arau, followed by Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Setar, and then went on to become a Barrister-at-Law at the Honourable Society of Middle Temple, Inns of Court, London, in 1961.
Before being called to the English Bar in June 1966, Dzaiddin worked as a journalist with The Malay Mail in Kuala Lumpur in 1956 and later joined the police force as an Inspector until 1961.
He was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in January 1967 and served in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, and Kuala Lumpur until October 1982.
Dzaiddin began his judicial career as a part-time Judicial Commissioner for three years in 1979 and was appointed as a High Court Judge in Kuala Lumpur and Penang in October 1982.
In January 1993, he was promoted to Supreme Court judge and later a Federal Court judge.
He was appointed as the Chief Justice from 2000 to 2003, the highest achievement of his career.
Dzaiddin was also the former chairman of the Kelantan Bar Council, representing the state in the Bar Council and later became the Malaysian Bar Council vice president for the 1981/1982 term.
In 1997, he was elected as the president of the Asean Law Association and remained its president until 2003.
On February 4, 2004, Dzaiddin was appointed chairman of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysia Police by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The commission's report, submitted on April 30, 2005, contained 125 recommendations, including the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, which will be replaced by the Independent Police Conduct Commission in 2023.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, on behalf of the Malaysian Judiciary, expressed condolences to Dzaiddin's family.
The Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia said he made significant contributions to the Malaysian Judiciary throughout his tenure. Dzaiddin served as Chief Justice from December 20, 2000, to March 15, 2003.
In a statement, it said his passing is a great loss felt deeply by the entire judicial community and the nation.
Dzaiddin passed away at the Prince Court Hospital in Kuala Lumpur from heart complications. He is survived by his wife Tengku Datuk Paduka Noriah Tengku Ismail and their two children.
Former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali confirmed his passing.
The funeral is scheduled to be held at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery today before the Friday prayers.
— Bernama
