Former Malaysian deputy minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin dies at 65

KUALA LUMPUR - Former Malaysian communications and multimedia deputy minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin died on Nov 13 at the age of 65.His younger brother, Zafruddin Zainul Abidin, told Malay-language daily Sinar Harian that Zahidi died at about 5pm while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Penang.“His health had deteriorated since Wednesday (Nov 11) and he was receiving treatment at a private hospital in Penang at the time,” Zafruddin said. “To my knowledge, my late brother suffered from kidney failure and had to undergo dialysis.”The news was earlier shared on Facebook by Arau MP Shahidan Kassim, who described Mr Zahidi’s death as a great personal loss.“My condolences to the entire family of the late Zahidi Zainul Abidin. I am deeply saddened by the news of my friend’s passing.”Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also extended his condolences to Zahidi’s family in a Facebook post on Nov 13, while Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil expressed his sorrow over the former Padang Besar MP’s death and called on the public to pray for him.Zahidi served as deputy communications and multimedia minister from March 2020 to November 2022 under the administrations of former prime ministers Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob.A veteran figure in Perlis politics, he was a two-term Padang Besar MP from 2013 to 2022, a Beseri state assemblyman from 1999 to 2008, and a state executive councillor from 1999 to 2006 under Shahidan’s administration as Menteri Besar.He was formerly an UMNO supreme council member before later joining Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK