KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 — The late Datuk Mohd Fauzi Shaari, a former Federal Criminal Investigation Department director, who passed away on Sunday, was described as an exemplary officer by his friends.

Selangor police chief Datuk Shukri Dahlan who knew Fauzi for the last 20 years said aspiring policemen should take him as a role model.

“His bold and firm character and non-compromising attitude was the reason behind his success,” said Shukri.

He said although Fauzi was his senior “we developed a long lasting friendship”.

“He was well-known for discipline and his insistence on sticking to the rule of law,” Shukri told reporters when met at the Section 21 Muslim cemetery yesterday, where the former top cop was laid to rest at 10.15am.

Shukri said Fauzi was a religious man with a good knowledge of Islam.

Fauzi, 63, died from kidney and heart infection at 8.15pm at the intensive care unit of Hospital Selayang, where he was warded on Thursday.

His son Mohd Faizal, 35, said he did not show signs of ill health until recently, when he went down with fever.

Among those who attended the funeral were Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin, Police Management Department director Datuk Mortadza Nazarene, Selangor Umno liaison chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar and senior police officers.

Fauzi, from Larut Matang, Perak, joined the force on April 30, 1975. He retired in 2006.

He is survived by his widow, Datin Fuziah Ngah Nordin, 60, and four sons, Faizal, 35; Fazril, 32; Fazrul, 32 and Faznur, 28, as well as two grandchildren.