Parthiban a/l M N Letchumanan (16.12.1956 – 18.3.2016)

MY LORDS and MY LADY,

We are gathered here this morning to pay a short tribute to our brother in law Mr. Parthiban a/l M N Letchumanan.

The late Mr Parthiban was born on 16/12/1956 and was the eldest son of Mr Letchumanan and Madam Kamachi. He was a very loving and caring son to his parents. He obtained his LLB (Hons) degree from University of Malaya in 1982. He was a bright and gifted student. In fact, he was one of the top students in his university days. Among his prominent university class or course mates were YAB Dato’ Seri Khaled Bin Nordin, the Menteri Besar of Johor, YA the Judicial Commissioner Tuan Gunalan Muniandy, YA the Judicial Commissioner Puan S.M Komathy Suppiah, our own present High Court Judge YA Dato’ Mat Zara’ai Bin Alias and a host of other judicial judges and officers.

Mr Parthiban was admitted to the Malaysian Bar on 15/6/1983. He chambered and continued his practice in the firm of Messrs Ong Ban Chai & Co. and thereafter, moved to the firm of Messrs Nijar & Nijar, Johor Bahru. Mr Parthiban subsequently set up his own firm and practiced under the name and style of L. Parthiban, Zulkiflee & Associates and had 3 branches in Johor Bahru, where he practised until his demise.

Mr Parthiban was admired for his advocacy skills by his opponents and colleagues. He was a fierce and vocal litigator, always standing up for the rights of his client. He was a knowledgeable and brilliant lawyer, always composed and polite in court and a master of cross-examiner. In recognition of his strength as a corporate litigation lawyer, his firm was on the panel of many corporate companies and banks. Many of his cases in which he appeared as a counsel has been reported in the law journals. The list of the reported cases is too long to be named here.  Some of the principles established in his cases, remain good law as of to-date.

Mr Parthiban was an ardent and skillful golfer with a handicap of 14. I am told that he had won some prizes in the Bench and Bar and Police Games and other golf tournaments. His hobbies include among others, flying toy helicopters and collecting toy planes and cars. He also loves watching old movies and listening to old songs.

Mr Parthiban was the 3rd President of Kiwanis Club of Johor Bahru. He was also the first Chairman for Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation, Johor Bahru Centre. He was very instrumental in setting up the Centre in 1991 using his own personal resources and became its Chairman from 1991 to 1993. He was also a Rotary Club member of Johor Bahru Central for many years until 2015, and subsequently elected as Vice President of the newly formed Rotary Club of Iskandar Puteri.

Mr Parthiban although appeared to be quiet and reserve, was actually a jovial and friendly person. He was known to never lose his temper and remained cool under all circumstances. His friends loved his companionship as he was knowledgeable in many subjects. He was always willing and ready to share his knowledge and to help those who are in need of assistance. He was a generous man and had donated monies to charities.

Mr Parthiban leaves behind his beloved wife of 33 years, Madam K Suneethe a/p K Krishnan, a daughter, Soobrinah Parthiban, a law graduate from the University of Hertfordshire and his other children, his dogs, Twinky, Tyra, Tesha and Brownie. They mourn his loss.

The members of the Johore Bar wish to express our deep sense of sorrow at the sudden and tragic passing away of Mr. Parthiban on 18th March 2016 at the young age of 58.  His loss is tremendously felt by all who knew him especially his beloved wife and daughter who loved him dearly and are grateful to him for the many wonderful memories.

In ending, I would like to offer my deepest condolence to the family members of the late Mr Parthiban. I hope they will find solace in the passage expressed in “Bhagavad-Gita 2 : 20” :-

For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.

I also humbly move that a record of this proceeding be preserved in the archives of this Court, and a copy thereof be sent to his widow and daughter.

May his soul rest in peace.

 

Mathews George

(Speech at a Reference Proceedings held at the High Court of Johor Bahru on 1/6/2016.)

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