Umno permanent chairman dies

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno permanent chairman Tun Sulaiman Ninam Shah passed away at the Pantai Medical Centre here early yesterday. 

Sulaiman, 83, who was suffering from leukaemia, died at 5am, his son Hassan said. 

Sulaiman, who left behind wife Toh Puan Rose Othman, six sons and three daughters, was buried at the Muslim cemetery near Bakri at 4.30pm.  

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Datin Seri Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali paid their respects at Sulaiman's residence in Jalan 14/47, Petaling Jaya earlier at 9.30am, reports Bernama. 

Sulaiman, who was the Umno permanent chairman since 1975 and was one of Umno founder members, had expressed his sadness for not being able to attend the 54th Umno General Assembly last month. 

During his 28-year term as Umno permanent chairman, Sulaiman had never failed to attend the event. However, poor health had prevented him from doing so in June. 

Sulaiman had been hospitalised for more than two months for the treatment of leukaemia. 

In a last interview on June 18, Sulaiman had advised party members to remain united and give their undivided support to the Umno leadership. 

Sulaiman had also urged Umno members to be loyal to the party as he himself had remained with the party since joining it in 1946. 

In Muar, Hassan said Sulaiman had asked his children to “always remain in Umno and support Umno leaders in their areas,” HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH reports. 

“Although he was ill for several months and needed medical treatment, he kept telling me and the others not to leave Umno. 

“It was like his last wish, telling us to always remain in the party,” he said when met at his father's funeral yesterday. 

Hassan said his father asked him to give his fullest support to Parit Bakar assemblyman Mohd Ismail Mohd Shah whom his father regarded as a very committed Umno leader.  

Umno leaders, led by deputy president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and vice-presidents Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak paid their last respects to Sulaiman at his house in Muar. 

Among the state leaders who paid their last respects were State Secretary Datuk Ayub Mion, state executive council members Othman Jais, Salikon Sarpin, Ramli Hamzah and Johor chief mufti Datuk Noh Gadut.  

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