KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob described Tun Sakaran Dandai (pic), who died on Monday (Aug 30), as a highly-respected leader.

       In expressing his condolences to Sakaran’s family and the people of Sabah, he said, Sakaran, who was the eighth Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah contributed a lot to the country’s development, especially in uplifting the socio-economy of the people of Sabah.

       "I was very sad upon hearing the news about the death of the former Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Sakaran Dandai, at 6am today.

       "I pray that Allah SWT blesses his soul and places him among the righteous," said the prime minister in a post on his Facebook.

       Sakaran, 91, who is also the eighth Sabah chief minister, was admitted to Gleaneagles Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, on Aug 18 on suspicion of being infected with Covid-19. He died at the hospital at about 5.30am on Monday.

       The recipient of the national-level 2017 Tokoh Maal Hijrah award, Sakaran played an important role in uplifting the socio-economy and education of the people of Sabah.- Bernama