MD Yunus Ramli, Perikatan Nasional’s candidate for the Tioman state seat who died early this morning, looked rather tired when he returned home after a campaign round in Sungai Puteri last night.

His third son, Khairyel Harith, 28, said his father was very dedicated to his election campaign, even though he had complained of fatigue due to the busy schedules.

“Every day, my father seemed excited to go out to campaign. He would usually go out at 8am and come home for Maghrib prayer before continuing his campaign till midnight.

“After he returned home last night, my father complained of body aches and asked me to apply ointment. But, he seemed too tired,” he said when met at his house in Taman Aman Jaya today.

Khairyel said his father had a heart condition and had undergone heart bypass in 2013.

The remains are still in the Rompin Hospital pending Covid screening results, after which a post-mortem will be carried out.

Yunus, 61, who was a businessman, died at the hospital at about 3.30am after being rushed there by family members.

He left behind his wife, Rokiah Md Herham, 62, and three children, namely Khairunisa Nadirah, 34, Khairyel Harith and Khairyel Reezwan, 22.

The contest for the Tioman state seat was supposed to be a five-cornered fight among Yunus, Sulaiman Bakar (Independent), Osman A. Bakar (Pejuang), Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly (Pakatan Harapan) and Mohd Johari Hussain (Barisan Nasional).

The Election Commission announced that the polling for the Tioman state seat, which could not proceed today, will be held on December 7. The nomination has been set for November 24, while early voting is on December 3.

Meanwhile, Johari, who paid his last respects to Yunus at the hospital today, said he had the opportunity to meet the deceased last night when they were both campaigning in Sungai Puteri.

“We have known each other since 2008. Although we represent different parties, we have a good relationship, and the deceased was also friendly. We always talk about politics and local issues in Rompin,” he said. – Bernama, November 19, 2022.