Kuala lumpur: Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, who passed away today at the age of 83, was a prominent figure in the judiciary and legal fraternity, known for his significant contributions to legal thought and his prolific writings on law, the judiciary, and life, leaving a lasting intellectual legacy.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abdul Hamid, born on April 18, 1942, in Kampung Permatang Tinggi Bakar Bata, Kepala Batas, Penang, pursued his early education at Sekolah Melayu Sungai Keladi and St. Xavier's Institution, before earning a law degree from the University of Singapore in 1969. His career in the judiciary began as a Magistrate in 1969, followed by roles such as Deputy Registrar of the High Court in 1975 and Head of the Prosecution Division at the Attorney-General's Chambers in 1988. He was appointed as a Judicial Commissioner in Penang in 1990.
He rose through the ranks, becoming a High Court Judge in 1992, a Court of Appeal Judge in 2000, and a Federal Court Judge in 2003. On September 5, 2007, he was appointed President of the Court of Appeal. His appointment as Chief Justice on November 1, 2007, at the age of 65, marked the pinnacle of his judicial career. During his tenure, he was recognized for his firm commitment to upholding the supremacy of the Federal Constitution and the rule of law.
Throughout his service, Abdul Hamid delivered 555 judgments, with 457 at the High Court, 53 at the Court of Appeal, and 27 at the Federal Court. His scholarly contributions include over 504 speeches and working papers on judicial matters. As Chief Justice, his landmark judgments on the jurisdiction of the Syariah and Civil courts remain influential, notably compiled in a 508-page volume titled 'Konflik dan Pengharmonian', which continues to be a critical reference in Malaysia's legal field.
In addition to his legal work, Abdul Hamid authored eight books, such as "I Will Never Beg", "Saya Tidak Akan Melutut", and "The Truth Shall Prevail", reflecting his perspectives on the nation's legal landscape. His academic contributions earned him honorary doctorates from Universiti Tenaga Nasional Malaysia (UNITEN), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and he served as an Adjunct Professor at several universities.
His achievements were recognized with awards like the 2004 Islamic Finance Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum and the National Maal Hijrah Figure honor in 2015 for his contributions to Islam nationally and internationally.
Abdul Hamid held influential positions, including serving on the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and Bank Negara Malaysia's Syariah Advisory Council. He also chaired committees addressing petroleum revenue issues and was a member of the Syariah Advisory Council of the Securities Commission Malaysia.