Former Melaka Chief Minister Abu Zahar passes away

Merlimau state assemblyman Roslan Ahmad who is related to Abu Zahar said he was admitted to a hospital about a month ago due to complications in his kidney as he was a diabetic.

"He returned home three days ago and passed away in the presence of his family members this afternoon," he told Bernama, tonight.

Abu Zahar leaves behind wife Datin Seri Khalijah Mohd Jiddi and six children, five of them girls - Zalina, Roslaini, Marina, Zuraini, Khaidirah - and a son, Mohd Aidi Iskandar.

Roslan said he was diagnosed with diabetes about 10 years ago.

"Abu Zahar who had served as the Melaka Chief Minister for two years, made tremendous contributions to the state, and was a mentor to me," he said.

The late Abu Zahar who was appointed Chief Minister from May 23, 1997 to Dec 2, 1999, is expected to be buried at the Makam Pahlawan Masjid Al-Azim at about 12.30pm tomorrow.

Born on Sept 14, 1939, Abu Zahar attended primary school at Sekolah Melayu, Merlimau and continued his secondary education at Sekolah Tinggi Melaka.

He received teachers training at Maktab Perguruan Kota, Kota Bharu, Kelantan and Maktab Perguruan Bahasa, Bukit Senyum, Johor Bahru, Johor before pursuing a diploma in Language Teachers' Training College, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur.

Abu Zahar received his degree from Brighton Polytechnic Language Centre, University of Brighton, United Kingdom and served as a teacher in a number of schools in Melaka, among them Sekolah Menengah Yok Bin, Ayer Leleh while his final position was Assistant director-general for Schools Registration Unit at the Melaka Education Department before resigning to contest in the 1986 general election.

In his first attempt, he won the Sungai Rambai state seat by beating PAS candidate Rahimi Bani by a 2,439 vote majority and in Nov 1999, he won the Jasin Parliamentary seat by beating Mujahid Yusof from PAS by a 10,685 vote majority.