June 23, 2007 was indeed a momentous day for yours truly. For many others, it was just another Saturday. As for myself, it was a day to be remembered. It was the first time that I had the privilege of meeting the late Abdul Razak Ahmad (little did I know back then that it was going to be the last time as well).

On that day, Razak was invited by the Bar Council Human Rights Committee to give a talk on Human Rights Training in Johor Bahru, which was organised by the said committee together with the Johor Bar Committee.

I was indeed fortunate to be there. Razak shared his life story as well as his experiences in representing the downtrodden and marginalised. I was amazed by the man, listening to his wonderful life experiences. I was even more fortunate as I subsequently had the opportunity to speak with him in private. That brief encounter transformed my perception towards life, the value of life and the actual notion of human rights.

More often than not, we tend to stress more on the laws and the legal instruments of human rights when we are talking about human rights but Razak was able to make me realise that there is no point of talking about the 'rights' if we first cannot appreciate humanity itself. Our system has conditioned society to profile or classify the people around us according to their class, status, social standing, race, etc. Rarely do we look at the other person as another fellow human being.

I hasten to add that when I met Razak, I was at the lowest ebb of my life; feeling jaded with my life and law practice. But every now and then when I remember that little moment that I had with Razak, it inspires me to keep on going and fighting for the poor and the underprivileged. It has also made me realise that we should not take life, our loved ones and everything around us for granted. We must appreciate the core values that make us human and the need to assist one another.

The late Razak was a simple, modest and humble man. He was a man with principles. It is not easy for any one of us to fill his shoes or to walk along the path that he paved. Nevertheless, I will strive to emulate and follow the legacy that he left behind.

He is now gone and has left us all for a better place, a place where there is no injustice or prejudice. He has made an impact on my life and I believe on many other lives as well. He will be missed.