KUALA LUMPUR: Former Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik (pic) passed away at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
Sabbaruddin, who would have been 80 on Dec 11, took his last breath at 7.45pm.
His special assistant Datuk Zamri Mohamed said Sabbaruddin was admitted last Sunday after testing positive for Covid-19.
According to Zamri, the former minister would be laid to rest today but the time and location had yet to be determined at press time.
“Tan Sri was a ‘straightforward’, firm and punctual person. He had planned for us to celebrate his birthday with the PM (Prime Minister) on Dec 11 but Allah loves him more,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was earlier reported as saying Sabbaruddin was his “sifu” in politics since he was appointed Temerloh Umno division information chief at the age of 27, until he became Sabbaruddin’s political secretary from 1995 to 1999.Sabbaruddin started his political career after contesting in the Temerloh parliamentary constituency and held the seat from 1982 to 1999.
He was also Umno secretary-general in 1996.
While expressing his condolences yesterday, Ismail Sabri described Sabbaruddin’s demise as a big loss to the nation
