PETALING JAYA: Former chief secretary to the government Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid has passed away aged 82.

       In a Facebook post on Saturday (Aug 28), Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohammad Zuki Ali said that Ahmad Sarji passed away at 1.40am.

       In the post, he described Ahmad Sarji as a public administration figure who was highly regarded and respected.

       "His passing is a great loss to the country.May his soul be blessed by the Almighty and placed with the righteous. Al-Fatihah, ”said Mohd Zuki.

       On Aug 7, Ahmad Sarji was admitted to the intensive care unit due to complications from Covid-19.

       He was admitted to the Hospital Cancelor Tuanku Muhriz (UKM) in Cheras.

       Ahmad Sarji was the chief secretary to the government from 1990 to 1996 during the administration of Malaysia's fourth prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

       After retiring, he was appointed as the chairman of the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) and the chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB).