Ex-minister Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Dies

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Hamid Zainal Abidin died of heart complications at the National Heart Institute (IJN) here on Tuesday night.

He was 70.

He was admitted to the IJN at about 4pm after complaining of breathing difficulty.

“His remains will be taken home to Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, Cheras, and will be laid to rest at the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn Muslim cemetery at around 11am today.” .

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, in his tweet last night, extended his condolences to Abdul Hamid’s family.

“My deepest condolence to the family of Brig Gen Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Zainal Abidin on his death. May Allah bless his soul. Al-Fatihah,” he tweeted.

Born in Bagan Datoh, Perak, on February 20, 1944, Abdul Hamid held the post of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 2001 to 2004 before taking over the chairmanship of Mara from 2004 to 2008.

He was also the former director-general of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department from 1995 to 2001.

He was appointed as senator from 2001 to 2004 and was elected as Parit Buntar MP during the 11th general election.

In 2003, Abdul Hamid was named Tokoh Ma’al Hijrah.

Meanwhile, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom described Abdul Hamid as a respectable leader.

“We lost another good leader. He had contributed so much to the country, especially in religious affairs,” he told Bernama at IJN.

– BERNAMA