74 Year Old Retiree Graduates at 41st IIUM Convocation Ceremony

By, Elesa Zainal

GOMBAK, 8 December 2025: At 74 years old, Ahmad Kamal bin Yeop Kamaruddin walked the stage as an inspiring example of determination, discipline, and lifelong learning.

Graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma in Shariah Legal Practice at the 41st IIUM Convocation in 2025 on 8 December, he redefined what it means to pursue education later in life.

He is currently chambering to become Syariah lawyer in Selangor. His academic and professional journey reflected both courage and a commitment to self improvement.

After retiring at the age of 55, he chose to study again. He enrolled in civil law studies at UiTM, spending six years completing his Bachelor of Legal Studies, then continued full-time for his LLB, and later earning his Master of Laws (LLM). He was called to the Bar at 63 in 2014 and practised civil law in criminal, probate, and litigation for about ten years.

His curiosity eventually drew him to Shariah law. This motivated him to enrol in a postgraduate diploma at IIUM, a necessary step toward qualifying as a Syariah Legal Practitioner in Selangor, a goal he continues to pursue.

However, studying at an older age was not easy. Ahmad Kamal shared that remembering cases, laws, and statutes became harder. But he pushed through all the challenges, late nights, and exam stress to complete his studies.

Reflecting on his journey, he joked that if he had studied law right after high school when only Universiti Malaya offered the programme, he might have retired as the Chief Justice of Malaya.

To students, his advice is simple, “Study well, because that is your job as a student”.

“Be honest with yourself, your profession, and the people around you and most importantly, get the job done,” Ahmad Kamal said.***