Tributes pour in after Khalid Ibrahim’s passing

SHAH ALAM – Shortly after the news of Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s passing last night, tributes poured in for the respected former Selangor Menteri Besar (MB).

IDEAS Chief Executive Officer Tricia Yeoh sends her deepest condolences to Khalid’s family and friends after his passing at the Cardiac Vascular Sentral Hospital in Kuala Lumpur at 11.08pm on Sunday.

Yeoh, who had worked with Khalid from January 2009 to 2011 said if it was not because of her position as his research officer at the MB's office, she would not have pursued research and a doctorate in federalism.

She said Khalid was humble, hard-working and had always prioritised doing the right thing for the people.

“He worked day and night, weekdays and weekends.

“At the height of the water crisis, I was supposed to go for a music gig, but cancelled because there was an urgent water committee meeting to attend and facilitate.

“There was once I had driven all the way home from Shah Alam and had just settled down when I was asked to return to the office because there was some work issue to discuss.

“He constantly tried to configure a solution of making the state's money work for and on behalf of the Selangorians,” she said.

Yeoh said that was how the slogan of ‘Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor’ was made with all its accompanying packages.

However, later on, Yeoh said he faced troubles with the political party that had nominated him to be an MB, but she would not go into details on the matter.

“In the end, there was no way to resolve the impasse. I wish that before he passed, there would have been some way of coming to a resolution. Alas, this was not to be,” she said.

She further wrote that the news of her former boss passing broke her heart.

“My heart breaks for the man who was my boss for more than two years, the bold, confident and obstinate man who succumbed to illness too early.

“Tan Sri, above all, thank you for your kindness and fairness that you consistently demonstrated.

“You showed me that a young Chinese girl with no prior experience in the civil service, wanting to make a difference in her country, could really do it. I will try my very best to carry the torch on. Your life lives on in the lives of many others,” she said in the tribute post.

Aside from Yeoh, Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh also posted a tribute, which said she had learned a lot from Khalid’s advice and administration style when she was first elected as the Subang Jaya assemblyman in 2008.

“He was a good menteri besar. It is an undeniable fact that Selangor prospered much under his leadership.

“I am thankful to have experienced public service with him and these invaluable lessons and memories will forever be cherished,” she said.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak also expressed his condolences to Khalid’s family over his passing.

Najib had described Khalid as a strict leader who had always rooted for the people.

“May God bless his soul and grant strength to the family in this difficult time,” he said.

Khalid passed away at 76, leaving his wife, four children and two grandchildren.

He was admitted to the hospital since April 23 due to an infection in the heart valve.

His remains will be taken to the Saidina Umar Al Khattab Mosque in Bukit Damansara in Kuala Lumpur for funeral prayers.

He will then be brought to the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque for those who want to pay their last respect and perform funeral prayers.

Khalid's remains will be buried at the Shah Alam Royal Mausoleum by order and grace of Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj.