PETALING JAYA: Former Penang deputy chief minister Tan Sri Dr Ibrahim Saad (pic) passed away yesterday evening from respiratory complications. He was 78.
His son, Datuk Zairil Ayu Ibrahim, 49, confirmed the news when Bernama contacted him.
He said his father suffered a heart attack and had been receiving treatment at the hospital for the past two weeks.
“He seemed to be recovering after being discharged. But while at home in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, he complained of breathing difficulty before being rushed to the hospital. Efforts were made to save him, but it was too late,” he added yesterday.
Ibrahim leaves behind a wife, Puan Sri Zainab Abdul Kadeer, 76, and five children.
The final rites are expected to be conducted at At-Taqwa Mosque in Taman Tun Dr Ismail before he is laid to rest at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery at 11am today.
Ibrahim’s political career began in 1983 when he served as the political secretary to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was the Culture, Youth, and Sports Minister.
He was the Seberang Jaya assemblyman for two terms from 1986 and became Tasek Gelugor MP in 1995.
Ibrahim served as Penang’s deputy chief minister from 1990 to 1995.
From 1995 to 1999, he was the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and was appointed as deputy transport minister in 1999.
He also served as the Football Association of Malaysia secretary-general from 2005 to 2007 and as the Olympic Council of Malaysia vice president from 2007 to 2009.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was among those who expressed his condolence through social media.
“DSN (Datuk Seri Najib) used to serve alongside Ibrahim, who was once a Deputy Transport Minister and minister in the prime minister’s department.
“May his soul be blessed and placed among the righteous,” read the Facebook post.
Parti Cinta Malaysia president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan said Ibrahim was his “boss lama” (former boss).
“He was a capable leader. I am utterly saddened to receive the news because although I didn’t meet him (regularly), we still kept in touch with each other,” said Huan, a former Batu Kawan MP.
