THERE was an outpouring of messages of condolences for Gopal Sri Ram, who died on Sunday, as many people came to pay their last respects today. 

The 79-year-old former Federal Court judge is survived by his widow, Chandra Sri Ram, and their two children, a lawyer and a doctor.

On the third floor of the Nirvana 2 centre, where the wake was held, many people were seen making their way to bid farewell to Sri Ram. 

His family members seated next to the coffin greeted those who came to pay their last respects. The cortege will leave for the crematorium at 2pm. 

Damansara lawmaker Gobind Singh Deo said Sri Ram was a brilliant lawyer and judge, one who was with considerable experience with an extraordinary grasp of the law.

He contributed immensely to the legal profession and was able to deal with issues swiftly with his vast knowledge of the law. 

“He (Sri Ram) was very experienced in constitutional law, which we followed closely. Now the younger lawyers need to keep up with it. 

“Sri Ram was an extraordinary man and his passing is a huge loss to the country and legal profession,” Gobind said after attending Sri Ram’s wake. 

Gobind said that as a friend, Sri Ram was always ready when he needed any legal assistance, adding he was a mentor who everyone looked up to.

Others at the wake were former health minister S. Subramaniam, Pastor Raymond Koh’s family lawyer Jerald Gomez, Bar Council president Karen Cheah, Housing and Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia chief commissioner Hishamudin Md Yunus, lawyer Siti Kasim and other notable guests. 

Nga fondly remembers him as a brilliant litigation lawyer and said that he will be sorely missed.

“He was not only a learned judge, but had a good heart. Sri Ram was brilliant and was excellent at his profession. 

“He was a no-nonsense judge. We have lost one of the best legal minds in the country’s history.”

Gomez said that as a prosecutor he did a great job in jailed former prime minister Najib Razak’s SRC International corruption case. 

“All the arguments he raised were smart. He did a great service for the country.” 

Sri Ram, who became a lawyer in 1970, had on numerous occasions represented Umno and Barisan Nasional.

He is best remembered for representing Umno when the High Court in 1988 declared the Malay-based party illegal.

He was the first practising lawyer from a private firm to be appointed to the Court of Appeal when it was set up in 1994.

He served as a judge at the appellate court for 15 years before being promoted to the Federal Court. He retired from the judiciary in 2010 before returning to practice.

After his retirement, Sri Ram first appeared for Anwar Ibrahim as his lead counsel in the Federal Court for the latter’s sodomy appeal.

Later, former attorney general Tommy Thomas appointed Sri Ram lead prosecutor in embattled former prime minister Najib’s 1MDB-Tanore trial.

He was also tasked with leading the prosecution in the RM1.25 billion corruption trial involving Rosmah Mansor, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined a record RM970 million by the Kuala Lumpur High Court. – January 31, 2023.