KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, led Malaysian leaders in expressing condolences to the family of Dewan Negara President Senator Datuk Mutang Tagal, who died today.
"His passing occurred while he was in service to the nation. May the family of the deceased endure this difficult time with patience," Sultan Ibrahim said in a posting on the Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Facebook page.
Meanwhile, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said he still remembers Mutang's history of involvement in Sarawak politics.
"My father, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi, who was the secretary-general of PBB at the time, played a crucial role in bringing him into PBB in the 1970s, before becoming an (elected representative) from the 1980s to the 1990s.
"He is not just a comrade in politics, but also a close friend to me and my entire family," he said in a Facebook post.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian said he and Mutang had made arrangements to meet in the Dewan Negara and were all set for yesterday afternoon.
"YAB Premier (Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg) and I were fortunate to be able to visit YBD Senator (Mutang) at National Heart Institute (IJN) Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday evening," he said
Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said a sense of sorrow engulfed him, but at the same time, he was grateful for having the opportunity to visit him at IJN with the prime minister the day before.
Similarly, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong shared about his fortune in meeting Mutang at Sri Satria, the deputy prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya.
"The last time we met was on April 27 when we both attended Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's open house for Aidilfitri," he said.
Mutang, the first Dayak to be appointed Dewan Negara president, passed away at 69 earlier today.(https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1048724/dewan-negara-presiden...)
He had fallen ill during a work visit to Azerbaijan and was brought back to Malaysia this week for treatment.
He was sworn in as the 20th Senate president in February this year following the resignation of Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was subsequently appointed the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sarawak.