KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah finance minister Datuk Seri Mohd Noor Mansoor passed away here on Tuesday (Sept 23). He was 82.
The veteran Sabah politician died at a hospital here after being admitted for health complications including chronic kidney disease.
His youngest son Izuan said that his father had various health complications and passed away at the hospital late in the morning.
Funeral arrangements are being made to bury him at Kg Contoh Putatan near here.
Born in Kota Belud, Matnor as he was popularly known, was an active Bajau leader in Sabah who promoted multiracial politics since the 1970s.
He was detained under the now repealed Internal Security Act for political activism against the then Usno state government under Tun Datu Mustapha Harun in the early 1970s.
With the formation of Parti Berjaya, he became a pioneer of the party that toppled Usno in 1976.
Matnor remained Berjaya secretary-general from 1976 to 1985 before taking over as president from Tan Sri Harris Salleh following Berjaya's defeat to Parti Bersatu Sabah in the 1985 election.
Berjaya eventually dissolved after it failed to make a comeback in the 1990 state election with Matnor keeping a low political profile.
He had served as Tempasuk assemblyman as well as in the Buang Sayang seat between 1976 and 1990.
In later years, he aligned with Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee as an advisor pushing for state rights.
