Veteran journalist Rehman Rashid dies at 62

Veteran journalist and writer Rehman Rashid has passed away Saturday at the age of 62.

The matter was informed by his brother, Rafique, in a text message to the media this morning.

Rashid had suffered a heart attack in January while he was cycling in Rawang.

He was then warded at Selayang Hospital.

His remains will be brought from Selayang Hospital to the Kuala Kubu Baru Mosque, and expected to be laid to rest after Asar prayers.

Rehman was born in Taiping, Perak in 1955 and studied at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar.

He pursued his degree in Marine Biology at University College Swansea in Wales.

Rehman became a journalist in 1981, after working with the Fisheries Research Institute in Penang and as a research associate with the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

He was an associate editor and columnist at the New Straits Times for seven years, before joining Asiaweek in Hong Kong.

As journalist, Rehman was the Malaysian Press Institute's (MPI) Journalist of the Year for 1985, and Bermuda's Print Journalist of the Year for 1991.

He has also written several books including 'Pangkor: Treasure of the Straits', 'Small Town' and 'Peninsula: A Story of Malaysia'.