KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) founding president, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup died today.
He was 80.
The veteran politician's passing was confirmed by his son Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup's staff.
It is learnt that Joseph died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) here.
He leaves behind wife Puan Sri Melinda Mak Soak Fong.
Joseph had retired from politics in January last year, stepping down as PBRS president. His son Arthur, who was deputy president, took over the presidency.
Arthur is also Agriculture and Food Security Deputy Minister.
Joseph was the founding member and first president of PBRS, which was a Barisan Nasional component party from 1994 to 2023.
His political career began in 1985 when he won the Sook state seat in the Sabah state election as a member of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).
In 2008, he won the Pensiangan parliamentary seat, serving the constituency until 2018.
In his illustrious career, he held various positions including Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development.
The Pensiangan, Keningau native had also served as Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, State Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, State Minister of Communications and Works, State Minister of Finance, State Minister of Industrial Development, State Minister of Resource Development and Enterprise and State Minister of Youth and Sports.