FORMER Lord President Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas passed away earlier today, two days after being tested positive for COVID-19.
He was 92 years of age.
According to Bernama, Salleh’s daughter Natirah Salleh confirmed the matter, adding that her distinguished father died due to complications from pneumonia.
“He will be buried at the Sheikh Ibrahim Islamic Cemetery in Jalan Pusara, Kuala Terengganu,” she said.
Salleh also served as a public prosecutor in the 1970s, instrumental in crafting the nation’s Petroleum Development Act 1974, which delivered petroleum development and management to Federal authorities.
He served as Lord President from 1984 to 1988, before being booted out together with four others by the Government led by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, via a tribunal.
Subsequently, Mahathir made several amendments to the Federal Constitution, which many legal experts have said clipped the wings of the nation’s independent judiciary.
Among them, was to replace the Lord President title to Chief Justice.
Salleh later forayed into politics but was defeated when contesting for the Lembah Pantai MP seat in 1995.
In 1999, Salleh won the Jertih state seat in Terengganu, as a PAS candidate.
In April 2008, the Government led by then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi handed ex-gratia payments to Salleh and those sacked during the 1988 judicial crisis.
On related matter, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak offered his condolences to Salleh’s family over the latter’s passing.
“My condolences to his family. May his soul be blessed and placed among the righteous,” said the Pekan MP. – Jan 16, 2021.
