FORMER Terengganu menteri besar Wan Mokhtar Wan Ahmad was today buried at the Section 21 Muslim Cemetery in Shah Alam about 3pm.

The funeral rites were held in the presence of family members and close acquaintances at the Tengku Ampuan Jemaah Mosque in Bukit Jelutong after the Zohor prayers, which was led by his son, Wan Abdul Hakim.

Earlier, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka Mohd Ali Rustam was seen paying his last respects at the mosque, while Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister and Hulu Terengganu MP Rosol Wahid was among those present during the burial.

Wan Mokhtar, 88, died at Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur due to heart complications at 6.20am this morning.

He served as Terengganu menteri besar for 25 years from 1974 to 1999.

Meanwhile, Wan Abdul Hakim, 52, who is also the former state assemblyman for Air Putih, Terengganu, said his father was admitted to hospital on Saturday after his health deteriorated.

“My father’s heart was previously only able to function at about 20%, and when we saw his health began to deteriorate, we sent him to hospital.

“He passed away peacefully, in his sleep. We are thankful the burial process went smoothly,” said Wan Abdul Hakim, who is also Wan Mokhtar’s fourth child.

Meanwhile, Rosol, said Wan Mokhtar’s death is a great loss to the people of Terengganu.

“He was a very humble person, easy to talk to and he liked to give advice, especially to young people. He brought about many developments in Terengganu, among them the laying of tarmac roads and advocating educational excellence.

“He was also the one who brought me into the political world and guided me. I will never be able to repay his kindness. My deepest condolences to all his family members,” he said. – Bernama, September 21, 2020.