Pahang MB press secretary dies

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Abdul Wahab, Pahang's longest-serving press secretary and veteran journalist, died this evening. (Source: Bernama)
KUANTAN - Pahang Menteri Besar press secretary Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamad Ali died today, believed to be of blood cancer, at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital here.

He was 61.

The death of Abdul Wahab at 5.42 pm was confirmed by the Menteri Besar’s Office in a brief statement to the media via WhatsApp.

Born on Feb 26, 1961, Abdul Wahab was by far the longest-serving press secretary, having served since 1995 and under three Pahang Menteris Besar, namely Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and the most recent Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

He began his career on Sept 1, 1984, as a News Officer at the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur before being transferred to the Pahang Bureau in January 1989 and returned to the headquarters in October 1994 as the News Desk Assistant Editor.

Abdul Wahab was first appointed on loan as Pahang Menteri Besar press secretary on July 1, 1995, before he opted for early retirement from Bernama on June 1, 2006.

After his retirement from Bernama, he continued to serve Khalil, who was the then Menteri Besar, before joining Adnan who took over in 1999 and later with Wan Rosdy, from 2018.

Wan Rosdy described Abdul Wahab as a person who could be relied on and was committed to his duties as a press secretary.

He said Abdul Wahab was also an important figure who had helped him a lot in carrying out his responsibilities as Menteri Besar.

"His services and contributions will forever be remembered. May Allah place him among the righteous,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Meanwhile, his youngest daughter, Siti Amirah, 30, said her father was first diagnosed with the disease around last July and sought treatment at two hospitals here, but his condition worsened last November.

"Father just returned home last Friday (Jan 7) after eight days of treatment at the HTAA. However, he was rushed back to HTAA yesterday evening due to shortness of breath.

"By that time, the doctor had already told us his condition was not good and asked us to be prepared (for the worst),” she said.

Abdul Wahab was laid to rest at the Bukit Ubi Muslim Cemetery here at 9.40 pm.

The funeral prayers were held earlier at the Al-Muhajirin Mosque in Indera Mahkota 5 here, after the Isyak prayers, led by the chairman of the Pahang Islamic Religious Affairs and Education Committee, Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad. - BERNAMA