ON 3 FEBRUARY 2025, we bid farewell to a man who was more than a colleague, mentor, and friend—Zulfigar Yasin, whom many endearingly called Prof. Zul. At just 65, he left us too soon, yet the depth of his impact ensures his presence will forever echo through the corridors of science, the gardens of CEMACS and the hearts of all who knew him. For those unfamiliar with his legacy, Prof. Zul was the very embodiment of excellence, grace and brilliance. And for those of us fortunate enough to walk alongside him—as students, peers or friends—we knew we were in the presence of someone extraordinary.
I first met Prof. Zul in 1989 when I joined Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) as a Research Officer. Our paths often crossed, but it was in 1995, when I became his PhD student, that I began to truly understand his depth. Under his guidance, I transformed from someone who couldn’t swim into a diver conducting underwater scientific research. Such was Prof. Zul’s magic: he made you believe in the impossible and then showed you how to achieve it.
