BERSATU’S Tanjung Piai MP Md Farid Md Rafik died this morning at a Johor hospital.

In a short message posted on the PKR WhatsApp group, PKR Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil confirmed the news.

He said the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department died at Pontian Hospital about 5.30am.

A post by the administrator on Farid’s Facebook page said the cause of death was believed to be a heart attack. 

Malay language daily Berita Harian reported Johor Menteri Besar Dr Sahruddin Jamal also saying Farid is believed to have suffered a heart attack.

Johor Bersatu secretary Mohd Solihan Badri said the body would be brought to Farid’s mother’s house in Serkat, Pontian after which it would be buried before Zohor prayers today.

Farid was deputy to P. Waytha Moorthy who has the national unity and social wellbeing portfolio at the Prime Minister’s Department. 

In the last general election, Farid beat MCA’s Wee Jeck Seng, who held the seat for two terms, with a majority of 524 votes. 

The other contender for the seat, Nordin Othman of PAS, polled 2,962 votes.

The constituency has 53,528 voters, with 57% of them Malays, 42% Chinese and Indians making up the rest.– September 21, 2019.