PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob paid his last respects to Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa at the former chief secretary to the government’s residence, here.
Ismail Sabri arrived at the house and spent about 20 minutes paying his last respects and meeting Ali’s family members yesterday.
Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali as well as National Centre for Governance, Integrity, and Anti-corruption director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Sallehhuddin Hassan, reported Bernama.
Ali, 66, who served as the 13th chief secretary to the government for six years from 2012, died at Dublin Hospital, Ireland, on Thursday.
The flight carrying Ali’s remains arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at about 6.30am, before being taken to his residence at about 8.30am.
The remains were taken to the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque, Precinct 3, here, for the last rites at the Sheikh Daud Al-Fathoni Hall before the burial at the Precinct 20 Muslim cemetery.
The mood at the mosque was sombre with more than 500 family members, civil servants and friends in attendance.
Among the dignitaries present were Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Also paying their last respects to the former chief secretary to the government (KSN), were Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, Communications and Multimedia Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek and former Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services president Datuk Omar Osman.
Mohd Zuki described Ali Hamsa as his teacher in the civil service, adding that Mohd Sallehhuddin was also Ali’s “student”.
“Tan Sri (Ali) was a teacher; he imparted a lot of knowledge to us and InsyaAllah (God willing) all his deeds will never be forgotten,” he said.
Mohd Zuki said Ali was hard working, dedicated and contributed immensely to the country.
“On behalf of the civil service, I would like to extend our condolences to his family. We pray that his soul would be placed among the righteous,” he added.