The late Haron Din, former PAS spiritual leader, was the recipient of the special category award.

The Yang Di Pertuan Agong presented the award to Ahmad Fairuz at the national Maal Hijrah celebrations in Serdang today, and urged Muslims to strive towards strengthening unity and maintaining solidarity.

“Efforts in the development of the ummah (community) will not succeed if Muslims continue to fight and be divided,” he said.

Ahmad Fairuz, 74, was head of the judiciary as Chief Justice from 2003 to 2007. He retired when his contract was not renewed after objections from the Conference of Rulers.

A month before his retirement, Ahmad Fairuz was embroiled in controversy when a leaked videotape purportedly showed well-connected senior lawyer VK Lingam in discussions about elevating Ahmad Fairuz, then third in seniority.

In 2008, a royal commission of inquiry concluded that Ahmad Fairuz was the judge engaged in conversation with Lingam over judicial fixing. It recommended that appropriate action be taken against Lingam, Ahmad Fairuz, another retired chief justice Eusoff Chin, tycoon Vincent Tan, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and businessman Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, now Federal Territories Minister.

The inquiry held that there was prima facie evidence to investigate the six men for offences under the Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act, the Penal Code and the Legal Profession Act.

However, no further action was taken by the Attorney-General.

Haron Din died at the age of 76 on Sept 16 in San Francisco where he had been under treatment for a heart ailment. He was among those regarded as instrumental in bringing to Parliament a controversial bill to enhance the powers of the Shariah Courts to impose Islamic criminal penalties.

A private member’s bill tabled by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is scheduled for debate at the Dewan Rakyat this month.

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