Abdul Hamid Othman dies of stroke

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Othman (pic) died of a stroke Friday. He was 72.

The adviser of Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd died at about 4.45pm while at work in his office at Maju Junction here.

His personal aide, Nor Azhar Yusof, said Abdul Hamid, who had heart disease and diabetes, was his normal self when he came in to work, but later complained of breathing difficulties.

He said Abdul Hamid's body had been brought back to his house at Taman Tenaga, Batu 9, Jalan Puchong.

Abdul Hamid, who was also adviser of the Women and Family Welfare Centre (Kewaja), leaves behind wife, Puan Seri Jamilah Mohd Said, 68, son Wafi Nazrin and five grandchildren.

Abdul Hamid, born on July 21, 1939 at Kampung Kemelong, Mukim Sik, Kedah, was appointed a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department in 1990 and was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department from 1995 to 1999.

In 2001, he was appointed the religious adviser to the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and then as religious adviser to Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from 2005 to 2009.

Abdul Hamid was among the first batch of students to receive the Malaysian government scholarship to pursue Islamic law studies at the Al-Azhar University in 1961. BERNAMA