Raja Aziz Addruse
Encyclopedia
Raja Abdul Aziz bin Raja Addruse (10 February 1936 – 12 July 2011) was a Malaysian lawyer. He served as President of the Bar Council
three times and was a commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists
. Raja Aziz is considered one of Malaysia's most respected lawyers. He was known among fellow lawyers as "Ungku."
, Perak
on 10 February 1936. He read law at the University of Bristol
(from 1954) and was called to the English Bar by Lincoln's Inn
in 1960.
in 1960 to become a deputy public prosecutor and later Deputy Parliamentary Draftsman. On 8 January 1966, he was admitted to the Malaysian Bar
and entered private practice. He served as president of the Bar Council three times between 1976–1978, 1988–1989 and 1992–1993. He was affectionately called "Ungku" by fellow lawyers and has been described as one of Malaysia's most respected lawyers.
His second tenure as Bar Council president coincided with the 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis
, during which Lord President Salleh Abas
was sacked by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. He represented Salleh when the latter was brought before a tribunal on the grounds of misconduct.
Raja Aziz was the lead defence counsel in Anwar Ibrahim
's corruption and first sodomy trial
. He was expected to lead Anwar's defence team for the second sodomy trial, but stepped aside due to ill health.
In May 2006, Raja Aziz was elected as a Commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists
, becoming the third Malaysian to hold the position.
He was also a counsel for former Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng
during the latter's 2009 bid to return to Malaysia.
Raja Aziz represented Sultan Ismail Petra who challenged his removal from the Kelantan throne in 2010.
) during the term of Salleh's successor, Abdul Hamid Omar
. In 2001, he criticised the appointment of Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim
as Chief Judge of Malaya when a more senior member of the Federal Court was passed over.
At the Malaysian Law Conference in October 2007, he said: "Fundamental liberties no longer exist; this is a harsh thing to say but the courts don’t seem to think that fundamental rights are important. To me, the constitution now means nothing because it can be changed at any time."
Raja Aziz criticised Pakatan Rakyat
for trying to disrupt the formation of a new state government during the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis
, asking it to refer the matter to the courts (which it eventually did). He also called on Barisan Nasional
supporters to respect Pakatan's right to challenge the Sultan of Perak
's decision not to dissolve the state assembly in court.
on 12 July 2011 from cancer. He was buried at Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetery the following day. Anwar attended the funeral.
Malaysian Bar
The Malaysian Bar is a professional body which regulates the profession of lawyers in peninsular Malaysia. In Malaysia, there is no distinction between a barrister and a solicitor, in that, it is a fused profession. Membership into the bar is automatic and mandatory. The bar was created under the...
three times and was a commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists
International Commission of Jurists
The International Commission of Jurists is an international human rights non-governmental organization. The Commission itself is a standing group of 60 eminent jurists , including members of the senior judiciary in Australia, Canada, and South Africa and the former UN High Commissioner for Human...
. Raja Aziz is considered one of Malaysia's most respected lawyers. He was known among fellow lawyers as "Ungku."
Early life and education
Raja Aziz Addruse was born in ChemorChemor
Chemor is a main town in Kinta district Perak, Malaysia. Nearby towns include Sungai Siput, Salak and Kuala Kangsar. Lafarge Malayan Cement has a big limestone quarry near Chemor. Chemor is also means "Mud" in Indian Sanskrit Language, while in the Chinese phonetics it means "Jewel". About 12 km to...
, Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
on 10 February 1936. He read law at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
(from 1954) and was called to the English Bar by Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1960.
Career
Raja Aziz returned to MalayaFederation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
in 1960 to become a deputy public prosecutor and later Deputy Parliamentary Draftsman. On 8 January 1966, he was admitted to the Malaysian Bar
Malaysian Bar
The Malaysian Bar is a professional body which regulates the profession of lawyers in peninsular Malaysia. In Malaysia, there is no distinction between a barrister and a solicitor, in that, it is a fused profession. Membership into the bar is automatic and mandatory. The bar was created under the...
and entered private practice. He served as president of the Bar Council three times between 1976–1978, 1988–1989 and 1992–1993. He was affectionately called "Ungku" by fellow lawyers and has been described as one of Malaysia's most respected lawyers.
His second tenure as Bar Council president coincided with the 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis
1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis
The 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis was a series of events that began with United Malays National Organisation general election in 1987 and ended with the suspension and the eventual removal of the Lord President of the Supreme Court, Tun Salleh Abas, from his seat...
, during which Lord President Salleh Abas
Salleh Abas
Tun Haji Mohamed Salleh bin Abas is a former Lord President of the Federal Court of Malaysia. He was dismissed from his post during the 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis...
was sacked by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. He represented Salleh when the latter was brought before a tribunal on the grounds of misconduct.
Raja Aziz was the lead defence counsel in Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
's corruption and first sodomy trial
Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trials
The Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trials are a source of considerable political controversy in Malaysia. The first trial was held in 1998, and resulted in former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim being convicted, and given a nine-year prison sentence. This verdict was overturned in 2004, resulting in...
. He was expected to lead Anwar's defence team for the second sodomy trial, but stepped aside due to ill health.
In May 2006, Raja Aziz was elected as a Commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists
International Commission of Jurists
The International Commission of Jurists is an international human rights non-governmental organization. The Commission itself is a standing group of 60 eminent jurists , including members of the senior judiciary in Australia, Canada, and South Africa and the former UN High Commissioner for Human...
, becoming the third Malaysian to hold the position.
He was also a counsel for former Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng
Chin Peng
Chin Peng, former OBE , was born Ong Boon Hua in Sitiawan, and was a long-time leader of the Malayan Communist Party...
during the latter's 2009 bid to return to Malaysia.
Raja Aziz represented Sultan Ismail Petra who challenged his removal from the Kelantan throne in 2010.
Views
Raja Aziz strongly backed Salleh Abas after the latter was sacked as Lord President. He refused to appear in the Supreme Court (now the Federal CourtFederal Court of Malaysia
The Federal Court of Malaysia is the highest court and the final appellate court in Malaysia. It is housed in the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya...
) during the term of Salleh's successor, Abdul Hamid Omar
Abdul Hamid Omar
Tun Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Omar Tun Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Omar Tun Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Omar (born Abdul Hamid Bin Omar (March 25, 1929 - September 1, 2009) was a former Chief Justice of Malaysia.- Early life :Abdul Hamid Omar was born on 25 March 1929 in Kuala Perlis, Perlis Indera Kayangan...
. In 2001, he criticised the appointment of Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim
Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim
Tun Ahmad Fairuz bin Sheikh Abdul Halim is the former Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Malaysia. A controversial figure, he held that position from 2003 to 2007. In August 2007, he courted controversy by suggesting the abolishment of English Common Law to be replaced by Islamic Syariah Law....
as Chief Judge of Malaya when a more senior member of the Federal Court was passed over.
At the Malaysian Law Conference in October 2007, he said: "Fundamental liberties no longer exist; this is a harsh thing to say but the courts don’t seem to think that fundamental rights are important. To me, the constitution now means nothing because it can be changed at any time."
Raja Aziz criticised Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat or PR is an informal Malaysian political coalition. It currently controls four state governments while in opposition to the ruling Barisan Nasional at the federal level....
for trying to disrupt the formation of a new state government during the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis
2009 Perak constitutional crisis
The 2009 Perak constitutional crisis was a political dispute in Malaysia regarding the legitimacy of the Perak state government formed in February 2009. It began when three Pakatan Rakyat state legislators defected, causing a collapse of the state government...
, asking it to refer the matter to the courts (which it eventually did). He also called on Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
supporters to respect Pakatan's right to challenge the Sultan of Perak
Sultan of Perak
Sultan of Perak is one of the oldest hereditary seats among the Malay states.When the Sultanate of Malacca empire fell to Portugal in 1511, Sultan Mahmud Syah I retreated to Kampar, Sumatra and died there in 1528. He left behind two princes named Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II and Sultan Muzaffar...
's decision not to dissolve the state assembly in court.
Death
Raja Aziz died at his home in Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
on 12 July 2011 from cancer. He was buried at Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetery the following day. Anwar attended the funeral.