Khalid contributed greatly to bumiputra economic development, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: The contributions of the late former Selangor mentri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim were invaluable, especially his efforts to drive bumiputra economic development activities, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR president said Abdul Khalid, an old acquaintance from his university days, was the champion of plantation company Guthrie.

"Although there were differences of opinion in politics, which is normal...we were still like family," he told reporters after paying his last respects to the deceased at the Saidina Umar Al Khattab Mosque in Bukit Damansara here Monday (Aug 1).

Recalling their past memories together, Anwar said the most memorable was when they succeeded in a project in collaboration with the Finance Ministry some time ago to help the hardcore poor.

"It was Khalid’s idea to give each family RM5,000 as their savings and the project was launched in Baling," he added.

Also present to pay her last respects was former deputy prime minister Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is Anwar's wife.

Wan Azizah said Khalid was a competent and hard-working leader who would be deeply missed and she prayed for Allah SWT to shower him with blessings and place him among the righteous.

Meanwhile, former politician Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, in paying tribute to the 15th Selangor MB, said Khalid's passing was a great loss to his family as well as the state and country.

"He was a very kind person, easy to approach, who had contributed a lot of ideas and participated together to develop not only Selangor but also the country," he said.

Khalid, 76, breathed his last at 11.08pm Sunday (July 31) at Cardiac Vascular Sentral Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

A post on his Facebook page announced that Abdul Khalid had been warded since April 23 due to an infection of a heart valve.

He had served as Bandar Tun Razak MP from 2008 to 2018, and as Selangor mentri besar from 2008 to 2014. - Bernama