SUNGAI PETANI: A sombre mood engulfed the vicinity of the late former Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Syed Razak Syed Zain's residence. He died around 11am this morning.
His wife, Datin Seri Syarifah Hamidah Syed Hamid, 73, said she was still shocked over her husband's tragic passing, but she has accepted it as God's will.
She said that her husband did not show any significant changes or signs that his time was up.
She said he even managed to get up to the bathroom by himself after returning from the hospital yesterday.
"Although he was not in good health, he was a strong-willed person after suffering from a stroke 20 years ago. He could speak as usual, I never thought he would pass away in his sleep.
"Usually, he would go to the hospital when he felt unwell, but he was allowed to return home yesterday before he complained of chest pain around 3.30am this morning
"His relatives were there to help take care of him, and I helped massage his chest," she said when met at her home in Taman Aman Jaya, Zon Anggerik here, today.
The late Syed Razak, the eldest of three siblings, did not have children after getting married in the 1970s.
His closest relative, who agreed to speak on the grounds of anonymity, said that news of his passing was a jolt to all family members.
"Over the past week, he appeared a bit weak, he still had a good appetite. Three days ago, he was admitted to Pantai Hospital due to low blood pressure, he was only discharged yesterday.
"Around 3.30am today, he complained of chest pain again and went back to sleep after his wife massaged him. It was not until around 10.30am that we noticed that my cousin had stopped breathing," he added.
He said that the late Syed Razak was a very positive man and often gave advice and encouragement to all his relatives to succeed in life.
"He always gave advice, encouraged me to pursue higher education and had high aspirations, he was very positive," he added.
Meanwhile, former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah who was present to pay his respects to the late Syed Razak said that his passing was a great loss to the people of Kedah.
He said that the late Syed Razak was an approachable leader.
"I knew him before he was active in politics, he was a businessman at the time, and he was quite friendly and easy to talk to.
"When he became Menteri Besar, I was a senior state executive councilor. He later had a heart attack, but he remained active in politics and helped campaign in the 15th General Election (GE15).
"Despite his condition, he was still enthusiastic about politics and was able to meet voters in Kuala Kedah. I met him twice during that campaign," he added.
Syed Razak was a former assemblyman for Kubang Rotan who later became the Menteri Besar Kedah from 1999 to 2005.
He resigned as Menteri Besar during the administration of former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, due to health problems and was replaced by former Padang Terap Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
Syed Razak's funeral prayers were performed at his home at 4pm before his remains were transported by a police convoy to Kubang Rotan at 4.15pm for burial.
His remains are expected to be buried at the Tanah Perkuburan Islam Masjid Nurul Ehsan, Kubang Rotan, in Alor Star at about 7pm this evening.
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