FORMER minister of tourism, arts and culture Sabbaruddin Chik died at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, this evening at 7.45pm, having contracted Covid-19.

Sabbaruddin would have been 80 on December 11.

His special assistant, Zamri Mohamed, said he was admitted to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre on Sunday.

According to Zamri, Sabbaruddin’s remains would be laid to rest tomorrow at an as yet unknown location.

“He was a ‘straightforward’, firm and punctual person. He had planned for us to celebrate his birthday with the PM on December 11 but Allah loves him more,” he said.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was earlier reported saying Sabbaruddin was his ‘sifu’ in politics since he was appointed Temerloh Umno division information chief at the age of 27, until he became Sabbaruddin’s political secretary from 1995 to 1999 when Sabbaruddin took the culture, arts and tourism minister post.

Sabbaruddin started his political career after contesting in the Temerloh parliamentary constituency and held the seat from 1982 to 1999. He was also Umno secretary-general in 1996. – Bernama, December 4, 2021.