Ibrahim's death a great loss for Anwar and family

KAJANG: The death of Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman is a major loss to his family, particularly his jailed son Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar was allowed to leave Sungai Buloh Prison, where he is serving a five-year jail sentence for sodomy, to attend his father’s burial yesterday.

Ibrahim’s granddaughter and Anwar’s daughter, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah, said that when her father was jailed the first time, his mother Che Yan Hussein passed away.

“Now my grandfather has passed away. It is a big loss for my father and our family.

My grandfather will be missed,” she said.

Ibrahim, who was Seberang Perai Central MP from 1959 to 1969, died at 1.45am on Sunday.

He was laid to rest at the Sungai Ramal Muslim Cemetery.

Escorted by prison guards, Anwar arrived at his father’s home in Country Heights, Kajang, at around 10.40am.

After paying his last respects to his father at the cemetary, Anwar left at 3.20pm.

His wife PKR, president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, said the family was grateful that the Home Ministry had allowed Anwar to attend his father’s funeral.

She also expressed surprise that Anwar’s nemesis, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, had also come to pay his last respects to Ibrahim.

“We were surprised, but I guess they were close.

“My father-in-law used to be a parliamentary secretary and they had known each other for a long time,” she said.

Other political leaders who paid their last respects included Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, PAS deputy president Mohammad Sabu, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and former Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

Former Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who was also present, expressed his sadness at Ibrahim’s passing.

“I knew him for more than 40 years, long before I knew Anwar.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family,” he said.