Former info minister Zainuddin Maidin dies (updated)

PETALING JAYA: Former Information Minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin has passed away. He was 79.

He passed away at the Serdang Hospital at 6.20pm on Friday (Dec 14). According to Bernama, his death was confirmed by his younger brother Abdul Lazam.

Zainuddin was previously undergoing treatment at the Putrajaya Hospital after suffering from pulmonary edema (water in the lungs).

He was rushed to the Emergency Unit of Putrajaya Hospital on Nov 12, and admitted to the normal ward before being transferred to the ICU the next morning after doctors detected fluids in his lungs.

He was later transferred to Serdang Hospital, where he passed away on Friday evening.

Zainuddin, known as Zam, was a former chief editor of Utusan Malaysia and was appointed Information Minister by then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2006 and served until 2008.