KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has extended his condolences to the family of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, who passed away this morning.
In a Facebook post, Anwar said he learned of Daim's death upon arriving in Lima, Peru.
"The government acknowledges his service and contribution to the country, especially when he was the finance minister. Al-Fatihah," he said.
Daim died earlier this morning. He was 86.
The businessman turned politician served as finance minister between 1984 to 1991 and later between 1998 to 2001.
From Alor Star, Kedah, he also served as a member of parliament for five terms between 1982 and 2004.
In 2018, Daim and other party veterans who supported Dr Mahathir in opposing then-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak were sacked from Umno.
Daim would go on to appear in Pakatan Harapan rallies ahead of the 14th general election which saw the fall of Najib and the Barisan Nasional government.
Following the change of government, Daim spearheaded a Council of Eminent Persons tasked with advising the new government for its first 100 days.