Published by The Malaysian Insider. By Clara Chooi.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — Bar Council members are mourning the death of their former president Raja Aziz Addruse, describing the prominent lawyer as the “eminence grise” to the Malaysian Bar.
Wikipedia defines “eminence grise” or “grey eminence” as a French term for a highly-respected individual who was made famous for his past accomplishments and who today plays the role of a powerful adviser to those who have succeeded him.
Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee told reporters today that Raja Aziz, who died this afternoon after a long battle with cancer, had been a “fearless” man during his time and a “lawyer’s lawyer”.
“He was a leading advocate in the Malaysian Bar, a very active human rights lawyer and an inspiration to many young lawyers. We would like to convey ur deepest condolences to his family,” he said.
Council vice-president Christopher Leong said Raja Aziz (picture) had been a “leading light” in times of trouble, adding that the latter would have likely been at the forefront of the Bersih 2.0 rally last Saturday, if he had been well.
“If not for his recent illness, I can assure you that Raja Aziz himself would have been at the forefront, leading us or some of the contingent in monitoring the rally.
“He will be remembered for a very long time,” he said.
Council treasurer Steven Thiru hailed Raja Aziz as an icon to all up and coming lawyers in the country.
“The way he conducted himself in the court, the way he conducted himself outside the court... all of which are lessons to be learned.
“I will always remember him as the eminence grise to the Malaysian Bar, a lawyer set apart from other lawyers in the country,” he said.
Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam) president Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, calling Raja Aziz by his nickname “Ungku”, said the latter’s work had defined the Bar in many ways.
“He was truly an inspiration and a friend to so many of us. With his passing, we have come to an end of an era. He will be sorely missed,” he said.
Raja Aziz, who died this afternoon at age 74, was the first to stay as the Bar Council’s president for three terms.
He has appeared before the courts in a variety of high-profile human rights and rule-of-law cases. He was the lead counsel for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy I case in 1998 as well as the lead counsel for Chin Peng’s Homecoming case in 2007.
The senior constitutional lawyer had said on the last day of the 14th Malaysian Law Conference that the checks and balances that were in the 1957 constitution did not exist anymore.
Raja Aziz will be buried after Zohor tomorrow at 1pm at the Kiara Muslim Cemetery.
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