KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 ― Former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Chan Nyarn Hoi, who had been very vocal in his criticisms against the judiciary, died in Ipoh yesterday, his friend confirmed.

Datuk Seri Mohd Faisal Abdullah, a close friend of Chan who is popularly known as N. H. Chan, confirmed that the retired judge's death at the age of 81 was due to a heart attack.

"Yesterday, about 5.30pm, in Ipoh at Taman Sunrise, he had a nap in his chair and he didn't wake up," he told Malay Mail Online when contacted today, adding that the death was due to a "massive cardiac arrest" and without struggle.

Mohd Faisal, who has known Chan for more than 30 years, said the former judge did not suffer from any prior heart illness and has been "very healthy".

"I was surprised because he was with me in KL last Friday, he never looked sick, he was talking, laughing," he said.

Those wishing to pay their respects can visit the Ipoh-born ex-judge's house at 20, Taman Sunrise, Persiaran Bintang in Ipoh, while the cremation will be in Bercham on Monday, he said.

Chan was a lawyer for almost two decades since 1961 before his appointment as High Court judge.

He was among the first group of High Court judges elevated to the Court of Appeal when it was set up in 1994, on the recommendation of the former Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.

He retired from the judiciary in 2000.

Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, who became a Court of Appeal judge in 2009 and retired last year, said Chan's death was a great loss.

"His passing away is a great loss to the legal fraternity. He will be remembered for his courageous judgment in the Court of Appeal in the Ayer Molek case.

He was the presiding judge in that case," he told Malay Mail Online when contacted, referring to the Ayer Molek Rubber Co Bhd v Insas Bhd case.

"The significance is that it rectified an injustice brought about by a High Court judgment involving a transaction of shares in a company," he added.

Mohd Hishamudin also noted that Chan had written two books, including How to Judge the Judges which was "a critical analysis of certain important cases in this country", adding that he had "pointed out the injustices as a result of the judgment in the Federal Court, among which are the Perak constitutional case, the Adorna Properties case".

"He was a fair and patient judge. And I remember when I was the state legal adviser of Selangor, I had the occasion to appear once or twice before him in a chamber hearing, I find him a very pleasant judge who gave us a fair hearing," he added.

M. Kulasegaran, who became a lawyer several years after Chan became a High Court judge in 1980, said the latter was a "very fair" judge who spoke without fear or favour.

"I know him a number of years, from the early 80s. I only knew him personally when he retired as Court of Appeal judge and settled down in my constituency," the Ipoh Barat MP said when contacted, adding that the latter was a humble man.

Kulasegaran, who had the opportunity to appear before Chan both in the High Court and Court of Appeal, recalls that the latter was "a very strict person on the bench".

"He was a very strict person, man of no nonsense, his integrity is unquestionable, man of impeccable character," he said, adding that he had sought Chan's advice for legal cases involving Hindu mother M. Indira Gandhi.

"His passing is a great loss to the legal profession," he added.

Chan had a deep knowledge and passion for the law and continued to keep up court cases even after his retirement.

"He was very concerned that the law is upheld, that decisions are made according to the law and not for dishonest reasons. In other words, he was very against corruption in the judiciary. He liked judges to decide cases impartially and in accordance with the law," a lawyer from Perak told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

The lawyer who declined to be named said Chan would write about judgments that he thought were wrong and against the law or common sense.

"He exposed judges. Those judges are exposed in his book," the lawyer added.

Chan had written Judging the Judges and How to Judge the Judges and commented on judgments in various cases after his retirement.

In an obituary posted on its website, the Malaysian Bar said it extends its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to Chan’s family and loved ones.