KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup passed away due to heart complications on Wednesday (April 17).

       He was 80.

       Former Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) secretary-general Datuk Johnson Tee confirmed that Kurup passed away at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur at 7pm.

       He said Kurup has been unwell in recent months.

       Kurup, a veteran Sabah politician, was among the founding members of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) led by Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who toppled the Berjaya government in 1985.

       After the 1994 state elections, the PBS government ended after a series of defections by party leaders to PBRS, which supported the Barisan Nasional government.

       Over his 40 years in politics, he held numerous ministerial posts, both at state and federal levels.

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