KUALA LUMPUR: Senior lawyer and former president of the Malaysian Bar Council Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah has died at the age of 77.
Sulaiman's passing was confirmed by his son, Huzir Sulaiman, through a brief media statement, last night.
"I was present at his passing together with my wife, as well as his devoted personal assistant and caregiver Siti Nur Abdullah, supported by Muhammad Hamza, as well as family members and friends," he said in the statement.
Huzir added that despite his father's health challenges particularly in the last decade, Sulaiman's sharp mind and dry wit remained unaffected.
"Despite my father's many health challenges, particularly in the last decade, his sharp mind and dry wit remained unaffected.
"He continued representing clients and serving on various committees and advisory panels," he said.
Huzir also said an online memorial service will be opened to the public in a few weeks.
Meanwhile, Sulaiman's funeral rites will take place at the Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Aziz, Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya at 1.10pm, today.
Sulaiman was the Malaysian Bar president from 2000 until 2001 and he had been a member since 1989.
He graduated in 1969 with a law degree from the University of Singapore and obtained a master's in law from the University of London.
Throughout his 50 years of career, he also represented various individuals and organisations, including high-profile cases.
In 2018, he was appointed the lead prosecutor in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's SRC International Sdn Bhd trial.
Sulaiman also served as the lead counsel for Datuk Nizar Jamaluddin, who sought to reclaim his position as the Perak Chief Minister during the Perak constitutional crisis in 2009.
In 1998, Sulaiman also served as one of the lawyers representing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the cases involving allegations of abuse of power and sexual misconduct as PKR president. However, he withdrew in 2009 due to health issues.