Former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, whose service was abruptly terminated three months short of his retirement, due to health reasons as stated by the government, was called to the Bar today.

Gani, clad in his legal robes which he has been having since 1980, looked energetic when he appeared at the long call ceremony, presided by High Court judge John Louis O'Hara in Kuala Lumpur.

Former Bar Council president Christopher Leong, who moved the motion for Gani's admission, said in his speech that the former AG of 13 years "is a fit and proper person for the admission".

Leong said: "I recall that even when he was undergoing dialysis treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, he would conduct meetings in the hospital, and thereafter rush off to his office or to some meeting.

"I asked him during a meeting with him at the hospital as to how he could maintain his pace of work. He cheekily pointed to the dialysis machine and said it was a re-charging machine. He offered that I should try it. I politely declined."

Leong claimed that Gani, his friend of 20 years, was a "nutcracker" who could be as hard as nails, aggressive, gruff and a tough negotiator.

"In reality, he is a consummate professional in his undertakings and in our dealings. In doing so, he can be firm, demanding and a hard counter-party, with a no-nonsense approach," he added.

Gani, who was accompanied by wife Maimom Arif and son Faezul Adzra Patail, had set up a new law firm, Gani Patail Chambers, at Kuala Lumpur Sentral a few months ago.

Former solicitor-general Azailiza Mohd Ahad, who opted for an early retirement this year, has joined the firm.

Justice O'Hara described this as a historical moment for him in having Gani, whom he knew in 1980s, being admitted to the Bar.

Gani has rarely made public appearances after his early termination on July 27, 2015, amidst the deepening 1MDB fiasco.

However, he found himself under the spotlight today, when when many asked to take photographs with him.

The usually serious looking former public prosecutor entertained these requests with a broad smile.

"I have nothing to say, I have started a new career," he said curtly when approached by the media.

Gani declined to respond to issues related to 1MDB, including the convictions in Singapore courts related to 1MDB transactions and the way the Attorney-General's Chambers dealt with the Swiss authority's request for mutual legal assistance.

He also refused to comment on blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who wrote that both former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan and he had been used by then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to imprison former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in the 1990s.

"I have told you that I am not saying a word," Ghani added.

Asked if he was ready to face the AG's Chambers and his successor Mohamed Apandi Ali himself, he replied," Let me think about that."