Photo credit: Bursa Malaysia Annual Report 2014

KUALA LUMPUR (July 11): Former chief justice Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah passed away on Thursday evening due to heart complications.

Dzaiddin, who would turn 85 this September, was the country's fourth CJ. He took over the post from Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin and held it from December 2000 to March 2003, before being succeeded by Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.

Before reading the law and joining the judiciary, Dzaiddin worked as a journalist with the Malay Mail in 1956 and had a stint with the police as an inspector with the Special Branch.

Dzaiddin left behind a wife and two children.

After retiring as CJ, Dzaiddin was appointed to chair the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police, which made over 120 recommendations to improve the police force, including one which led to the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

It is learnt that his remains would be placed at his house in Taman Tun Dr Ismail on Thursday night, before being sent to Bukit Kiara the next day for burial.

Several members of the judiciary, when contacted, confirmed his sudden passing.

CJ Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat in a statement said the judiciary and its staff expressed condolences to Dzaiddin's family for his sudden passing.

"He has contributed a lot to the judiciary s CJ when he served from Dec 20, 2000 to March 15, 2003. His sudden passing or demise is a big loss especially to the judiciary and the country as a whole," Tengku Maimun said.