The late Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah has left an indelible mark in the country's judiciary and national hockey development, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

"His Royal Highness has an illustrious career in the judiciary and he was respected not only as a royalty, but also as a judicial figure," he told reporters after launching the Youth Creative League here on Wednesday night.

Ahmad Shabery said Sultan Azlan Shah was the fifth chief justice (1982-1984) and the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (1989-1994).

He said under the Sultan stewardship of the Malaysian Hockey Federation (now Malaysian Hockey Confederation), the national hockey team was able to become among the top teams in the world.