PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said he and his family are saddened by the death of lawyer Christopher Fernando on Saturday night.

Met at the Jalan Duta court complex - where the royal commission is holding an inquiry into the Lingam tape that he had exposed last September - Anwar said has lost not only a counsel, but also a great family friend.

Fernando ( left ) was in the legal team that defended Anwar when he was charged with corruption and sodomy after being sacked from his government and party posts in September 1998.

Although Anwar was jailed on the corruption charge, the sodomy conviction was overturned on appeal.

“He was there through the most difficult period. He presented and conducted himself in the court in an impressive manner, impeccably, and I owe him. He has (conducted) himself not only professionally. We have lost a very dear friend,” said Anwar.

“He took every opportunity to visit me in Sungai Buloh (prison) every week without fail and tried very hard to assure and encourage me.”

Unable to attend funeral

Anwar ( right ) was unable to attend the funeral yesterday, as he was in Kota Kinabalu. However, he visited Fernando’s family in the late evening upon his return.

Fernando, whose Muslim name was Aris Rizal, died after triple bypass surgery at the National Heart Institute on Saturday night. He was 66.

Anwar said he hoped the family would be strong and also conveyed a message to Fernando’s elder daughter Marissa, a practising lawyer.

“Marissa is a bright girl. I wish her all the best. She needs all the support and encouragement (she can get),” added Anwar.

Fernando was married to Maria Kamaruddin. They have another daughter, Rina.