Former Malaysian Bar Council President, Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah, breathed his last on Monday (Dec 18) at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy of significant contributions to the legal field.
According to the Star, his son, playwright and director Huzir Sulaiman, confirmed the news and announced that funeral rites would be held on Tuesday at Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Aziz in Petaling Jaya.
Despite battling health challenges in the last decade, Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah’s sharp mind and dry wit remained undiminished. Huzir Sulaiman expressed gratitude for the support of family, friends, and caregivers during his father’s final moments.
Datuk Sulaiman’s illustrious career included serving as the Malaysian Bar Council President from 1993 to 1995 and again from 2000 to 2001. His commitment to justice extended globally, as he co-chaired the Pro Bono & Access to Justice Committee of the International Bar Association from 2007 to 2009.
The late lawyer gained prominence for his involvement in landmark cases, representing both state and federal Islamic bodies. Notably, he appeared in the case of Lina Joy, advocating for her right to remove the term “Islam” from her identity card after converting to Christianity.
Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah’s legal acumen was evident in high-profile cases, such as representing the Terengganu Malay Customs and Islamic Religious Council in matters related to the use of the word “Allah” by the Catholic Church. He also served as lead counsel for Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin during the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis.
His legal career spanned the defense of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in abuse of power and sexual misconduct cases, as well as prosecuting former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a corruption case.
