‘He belonged to the people’

A sad day: Iskandar Zulkarnain speaking with reporters.

PONTIAN: Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub’s son said his father had once told him that if he dies, he wanted it to be on a day while he was still serving the rakyat.

Iskandar Zulkarnain said from what his father had told him, he had always wanted to serve the people.

“As his children, we understood a long time ago that he belongs to the people. That is how we were raised since we were little. He always put the people first.

“Our father told us that he wanted to die while working for the people. His conviction was to serve the rakyat.

“We have never stopped him and are happy that his wish was fulfilled,” he said while holding back his tears.

Iskandar Zulkarnain, 37, the oldest of Salahuddin’s six children, was met at Masjid Jamek Dato’ Haji Noh Gadot, where funeral prayers for the late Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister was held.

He added that his father had always reminded his children not to get involved in his work.

“That was why many people, including those in his ministry, had never even seen us as we stayed away from his job.

“He always taught us to be independent and not depend on him,” he said.

Iskandar Zulkarnain said he hoped the people would remember his father for the good deeds he had done throughout his life.

Salahuddin’s widow, Datin Seri Fatimah Taha, 60, said her husband had never complained of any illness before he died, adding that he always took good care of his health.

His brother, Ghazaley Ayub, 56, said he last saw Salahuddin during Hari Raya Aidiladha last month.

“He came to Pontian to hand over some donations to the people.

“My brother was a caring person and a workaholic. He had been the head of our family ever since we lost our father in 2009.

“He would return home at least twice a month to meet with our mother,” he said, adding that Salahuddin was the eldest of three brothers.

Ghazaley said his brother was very busy as besides carrying out his duties as a minister, he was also going to several states to prepare for the upcoming state elections as Amanah deputy president.

“I was informed that he was rushing between Kelantan, Terengganu, Penang and Kedah.

“He was probably tired from attending all the political and government programmes. He even checked his blood pressure on the day he was rushed to the hospital, and it was found to be normal,” he added.

Salahuddin was rushed to hospital last Friday after experiencing nausea and vomiting.

He died at 9.23pm on Sunday at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah in Alor Setar, Kedah.

He was laid to rest at the Jalan Sulong Muslim cemetery in Kampung Serkat at 12.05pm yesterday.

A huge crowd was seen at the mosque as relatives, friends, Amanah members and political party leaders came to pay their last respects to Salahuddin.

In addition to his wife and six children, he had 11 grandchildren. He also leaves behind his 83-year-old mother Aminah Abdullah.