KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said he lost a friend in the death of Sungai Sibuga assemblyman Datuk Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain on Sunday (Jan 19).
“The late Datuk Mohamad Hamsan was a long-time colleague who fought alongside us in the administration. He was a leader with a deep connection to the people, was friendly and was well-liked by many. His contributions and support for the state government will always be appreciated,” Hajiji said, extending his condolences to the widow, Datin Kalsom Abdul Aziz.
“On behalf of the state government, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of the late Datuk Haji Mohamad Hamsan Haji Awang Supain,” Hajiji added in a statement on Monday (Jan 20).
He also described Mohamad Hamsan’s passing as a loss to the state, especially to the people of the Sungai Sibuga constituency.
The 65-year-old Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister succumbed to acute kidney failure at 11.20 pm, two days after being warded at KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital.
Mohamad Hamsan, who had been in and out of the hospital since December 2024, initially showed signs of recovery and was in good spirits when he spoke with Sabah’s Tuan Yang Di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Musa Aman, during a visit on Sunday afternoon.
His body was brought to the Sabah State Mosque in Sembulan for prayers before being transported to his birthplace in Sandakan.
Hundreds gathered to pay their final respects before he was laid to rest at Bintang Baru Cemetery, Rancangan Sungai Manila, before the Zuhur prayers on Monday (Jan 20).
In the 16th Sabah State Election in 2020, Mohamad Hamsan, representing Barisan Nasional (BN), won the Sungai Sibuga seat, previously held by Musa, by defeating four other candidates with a majority of 1,538 votes.
Prior to his political career, he served as Sandakan Municipal Council deputy president.
He is survived by his wife and four daughters. His eldest son had also passed away three years ago after losing the battle to cancer.