KUALA LUMPUR: Former chief judge of Malaya Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed and former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Mohd Zawawi Salleh have been accepted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.
The duo was admitted during a proceeding before High Court judge Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh today.
Azahar's son, lawyer Azmi Azahar, and former Malaysian Bar president Salim Bashir acted as the movers of petition for Azahar and Zawawi, respectively.
Farid said both petitioners were larger-than-life figures in the judiciary.
He said they had delivered impeccable and landmark judgments that would withstand the test of time and be references for many years.
"Their retirement is a significant loss to the judiciary, leaving a vacuum that is difficult to replace and a pair of big shoes that are hard to fill.
"How do I give words of wisdom and advice to them who are far wiser and more experienced than I am?
"How do you lecture those you consider as mentors?
"I came to the inevitable conclusion, that you don't. You acknowledge them," he said.
Farid said Azahar and Zawawi had achieved far greater mileage in the courtroom.
"If they were cars, they would be vintage cars.
"You do not race against vintage cars… you ask the driver to slow down so you can unleash your smartphone camera and start snapping loads and loads of pictures.
"They were the epitome of wisdom. Although they may be seated down there, I will look up to them with awe," he said before adjourning the proceedings.
Present were Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, Senior Federal Counsel Suzana Atan and Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah.
Azmi and lawyer Datuk Salehuddin Saidin then presented the lawyer's robe to the duo following Farid's speech.