Former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has passed away at the age of 85. According to a report by British news agency Reuters, quoting the former leader’s family and Malaysian medical authorities, Abdullah died on Monday.
He breathed his last at 7:10 PM local time at the National Heart Institute in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. His son-in-law and former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin confirmed the news in an Instagram post, although he did not specify the exact cause of death.
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became Malaysia’s fifth prime minister in 2003, following the resignation of Mahathir Mohamad, who had served for 22 years and is widely regarded as the architect of modern Malaysia.
The National Heart Institute released a statement saying Abdullah was admitted on Sunday due to respiratory issues and was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as his condition worsened. Despite extensive medical efforts, he could not be revived and passed away peacefully in the presence of his loved ones.