Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (March 12): After an illustrious career in the judiciary, former Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin was called to the Bar today.

Zulkefli, who will turn 70 at the end of this month, was admitted as an advocate and solicitor before Justice Datuk Seri Mariana Yahya.

The motion to move the call was made by lawyer Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun.

At the call, conducted virtually due to the Covid-19 lockdown, Hafarizam noted that Zulkefli had a stellar career on the bench for 25 years.

After serving in the Attorney General’s Chambers, he was appointed a High Court judge and later made the Chief Judge of Malaya, before rising to become the No 2 in the judiciary as Court of Appeal president.

"While on the bench he has acquitted himself excellently, managing to reduce the number of cases and appeals pending whilst ensuring the quality of justice is not compromised.

"He is known for his integrity and sense of fairness. He does not allow himself to be influenced by extraneous factors," said Hafarizam.

Noting that there may be questions as to why Zulkefli wants to be admitted to the Bar after having a successful career, he said: "This is because as a man of expertise in many areas of the law, the petitioner wishes to bring his 25 years of experience on the bench with various number of high profile cases that has drawn national and international attention alike to the legal practice as the firm's legal consultant."

Senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan, who supported the motion for Zulkefli to be called to the Bar, said given Zulkefli's stellar professional career there is not a modicum of doubt that he is a fit and proper person to be admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.
 
Zulkefli, who retired from the judiciary in July 2018, is married to Puan Sri Rohani Mohamed Kassim and they have five children.

Edited ByS Kanagaraju
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