Najib, leaders express condolences over Adenan's death

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional leaders have taken to social media to express their condolences over the unexpected death of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem (pic).

"Innalillahiwainnailaihirajiun. Terima berita sedih TS Adenan Satem telah pulang ke rahmatullah. Saya akan ke Sarawak utk ziarah jenazah. (I received the sad news of Tan Seri Adenan Satem's passing. I will be going to Sarawak to pay my respects).

"Jasa Allahyarham kpd Sarawak amat besar, Malaysia kehilangan pemimpin berwibawa. Takziah kpd keluarga, moga roh dicucuri rahmat. Al-Fatihah (He made huge contributions to Sarawak. Malaysia has lost a capable leader. My condolences to his family. May his soul be blessed. Al fatihah)," said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Wednesday afternoon.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is on a six-day working visit to China, also posted condolences on social media.

"#AlFatihah. Salam takziah kepada Puan Sri Jamilah atas pemergian Tan Sri Adenan Satem. Semoga Rohnya Ditempatkan bersama orang beriman. Amin (Condolences to Puan Sri Jamilah on the passing of Tan Sri Adenan Satem. May his soul be placed among the righteous)," Dr Ahmad Zahid wrote on Instagram, accompanied with a picture of Adenan.

Adenan died of a heart attack on Wednesday at the Sarawak General Hospital. He would have turned 73 on Jan 27.

Transport Minister and MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai wrote that Malaysia had lost a great leader.

"Slm takziah kpd PS Jamilah & keluarga serta seluruh Rakyat S'wak diatas pemergian TS Adenan Satem, CM S'wak. (Condolences to Puan Sri Jamilah and family, along with all Sarawakians over the loss of Tan Sri Adenan Satem). Msia lost a great leader today," Liow tweeted.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said he was shocked when he came to know of Adenan's death.

"It is a sad day for Sarawak and Sarawakians. We lost a great leader whose focus was on the interest of the state and its people," he said.

Fadillah, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth chief, said it was important that Adnan's legacy continued.

"We must now make sure that we continue whatever wishes he (Adnan) had for the people and Sarawak," he said when contacted on his flight back to Sarawak.

Among the first to express his condolences was Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

"Takziah kepada Puan Sri Jamilah & keluarga & rakyat negeri Sarawak atas kembalinya ke rahmatullah Ketua Menteri TS Adenan Satem. Al Fatihah (Condolences to Puan Sri Jamilah and family and the people of Sarawak over the passing of Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem)," Khairy tweeted.

"Greatly shocked. Great loss to all #Malaysians. My sincere condolences to the family and the people of Sarawak #RIPTanSriAdenanSatim," said Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan.

Other ministers who expressed their condolences on social media include Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and Klang MP Charles Santiago were among Opposition leaders who also expressed their sadness over the loss.

"Al-fatihah TS Adenan Satem. Deepest condolences to bereaved family. Malaysia and Sarawak have lost great visionary leader," said DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.