THEIRS was a friendship that spanned over 30 years, so when former Sarawak land development and housing minister Celestine Ujang Jilan died, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had to fly to Kuching to pay his last respects to his “beloved brother”.

Ujang, who on Wednesday died at a private hospital after collapsing at home was father-in-law to Sarawak Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Alex Nanta Linggi.

Ujang died of complications arising from acute diabetes. He was 70.

In a brief eulogy, Zahid said his friendship with Ujang started in 1987, when they met as members of Barisan Nasional Youth.

Ujang was the youth chief of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the lead party in the state’s four-party ruling coalition.

“He was my beloved brother. I’ve really lost a friend.

“Whenever I met Datuk Alex, I would always ask about him (Alex) to send my salam (greetings) to him (Ujang),” Zahid said.

To Ujang’s widow, Elizabeth Pawa, and his relatives who were present, Zahid said he had always regarded them as family and that the bond should remain even though Ujang was no longer here.

The deputy prime minister, who also conveyed Prime Minister Najib Razak’s condolences, had visited Ujang three times after he fell ill.

Zahid was a surprise guest at Ujang’s 70th birthday last year. Upon touching down in Kuching for a working visit, Zahid had headed straight for The Sarawak Club where the birthday dinner was held.

Ujang was a minister in the cabinet of former chief ministers Abdul Rahman Yaakub and Abdul Taib Mahmud.

The former Kemena assemblyman of six terms retired from active politics in 2001.

He was also formerly a PBB senior vice-president.

Ujang’s funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon. After the funeral service at St Joseph’s Cathedral, he will be buried at the Nirvana memorial park in Bau. – January 12, 2018.