Ex-Perak Speaker dies

KUALA KANGSAR: Former Perak State Assembly Speaker and four-term state assemblyman Datuk Shafie Mat Saman died at midnight on Thursday. He was 72. 

Among those who paid their last respects at Shafie's home in Bendang Panjang here was Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali. 

Shafie was buried in the Kampung Jeliang Muslim cemetery about 11.30am yesterday. 

He left behind his wife, Datin Maziah Othman, nine children and 15 grandchildren. 

Shafie joined Umno in 1956 and won the Padang Rengas state seat on an Alliance ticket in 1969. 

In 1974, he won the Manong state seat and was appointed State Assembly Speaker until 1978. He went on to retain the Manong seat for two more terms before retiring from active politics in 1986.