KEDAH, MALAYSIA — Malaysian Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Minister, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, passed away at the age of 61 on Sunday (23 Jul) at 9:23 pm.
Salahuddin Ayub, who served as the Member of Parliament for Pulai, Johor, for two terms, passed away while still in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar.
The announcement of his death was made by his ministry’s press secretary, Syakirin Husnal, at 10 pm.
According to the statement, arrangements are being made to transport the late minister’s remains back to his mother’s house in Kampung Serkat (Kopi Tenggek), near Tanjung Piai.
“The Minister’s Office of KPDN will provide further information regarding the funeral arrangements in the near future.
“The late’s family would like to express their utmost appreciation and boundless gratitude to all parties for the prayers and thoughts given to the late.
“The late’s family would also like to thank all the doctors and staff of Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital,” he said.
Salahuddin was also the Deputy President of the National Trust Party (AMANAH), one of the component parties of Pakatan Harapan.
He was rushed to the Emergency Department of Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital at 10:15 pm last Friday (21 Jul) for emergency treatment after experiencing nausea and vomiting.
Subsequent examination by specialist doctors confirmed that Salahuddin had a brain hemorrhage.
He then underwent surgery on Saturday morning before being placed under close supervision by surgical and medical experts at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.
Besides close family members, among the prominent figures who visited Salahuddin at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, were the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, who is also the President of AMANAH, and the Minister of Health, Dr. Zaliha Mustafa.
Earlier, Dr. Zaliha stated that the surgery undergone by Salahuddin the previous day was successful, but he was still under the observation of specialists in the ICU.
Salahuddin leaves behind a widow, Datin Seri Fatimah Taha, along with six children.
The political career of the late Salahuddin
Salahuddin was born in Pontian, Johor, to Malay-Chinese parents.
After graduating from Universiti Putra Malaysia, he initially pursued a career in the banking sector before embarking on a political journey.
In 1999, he joined Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and sought election in the Johor state seat of Benut, but unfortunately, he did not emerge victorious.
Undeterred, he decided to contest the parliamentary seat of Kubang Kerian in Kelantan in 2004, where he achieved success and secured a win. He was re-elected in 2008, further solidifying his political standing.
In 2013, Salahuddin returned to his hometown in Johor and vied for the parliamentary seat of Pulai. However, in the electoral contest, he faced defeat, losing to Barisan Nasional’s Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
In 2015, he and several others parted ways with PAS and founded Amanah, a new political party.
Subsequently, during the General Election in 2018 under the banner of Pakatan Harapan, Salahuddin contested again and emerged victorious in both the Pulai parliamentary seat and the Johor state seat of Simpang Jeram, marking a significant achievement in his political career.
