The late Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah was a patient judge and the post really suited him, said Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria.

Arifin said during his tenure as Judge and Chief Justice, Sultan Azlan had written many landmark rulings especially on constitutional and administrative law.

"We (judges) still read and refer to his judgment and still look at his decision," said Arifin when contacted today, adding that he was deeply saddened by the death.

Sultan Azlan passed away at 1.30 pm today. His Royal Highness was 86.

The death was announced by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir over Radio Television Malaysia (RTM).

Arifin, who had vast experience working with Sultan Azlan since he was a egistrar at the High Court in 1976, described Sultan Azlan as a patient judge.

"When Tuanku was appointed as Sultan of Perak, I was also Perak state legal advisor and I had served about five years and when Tuanku became The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, I got the appointment letter from him as a High Court Judge.

"All judges and lawyers will agree that he was a patient judge and really suited for the post (judge). I am really proud to have worked with him," said Arifin, adding that he also used to appear before Sultan Azlan when he was a federal counsel.

Sultan Azlan was elevated to the Bench of the High Court of Malaya, being the youngest judge to be appointed in the Commonwealth, in 1965 at the age of 37.

In 1973, he was appointed as Federal Court judge and six years later in 1979, Chief Justice of Malaya, an office which he held until his appointment as the youngest-ever Lord President of the Federal Court of Malaysia on Nov 12 1982.