Many turn up for Md Farid’s funeral
Tanjung Piai MP, 42, dies of heart attack
PONTIAN: Some 1,000 people, including Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, gathered for the funeral of Tanjung Piai MP Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafik (pic).
Dr Mahathir, who cut short his programme in Cyberjaya to rush for the funeral, was at a loss for words over news of Dr Md Farid’s sudden death, which will pave way for a by-election.
Dr Mahathir, together with Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, arrived at Masjid Jamek Dato Noh Gadut at about 3.40pm yesterday to pay their last respect to Dr Md Farid, who was the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Unity and Social Harmony.
When met after the solat jenazah and Asar prayers, Dr Mahathir was distraught and choked up when asked by journalists on Dr Md Farid’s death.
“There is nothing to say..he is too young,” he said.
Dr Mahathir, who was calm and composed when delivering his speech at the event in Cyberjaya, left the venue without visiting the Coop Trade City exhibition as scheduled
An aide to Dr Mahathir informed the media at the event that the Prime Minister was saddened by the news as he was close to the Tanjung Piai MP.
The aide said the Prime Minister had performed Friday prayers the day before with Dr Md Farid in Kuala Lumpur.
During Dr Md Farid’s funeral, leaders from Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional were also present to pay their respect to Dr Md Farid during the funeral held at Kampung Serkat Laut here.
Among them were Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik, Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) secretary general Datuk Marzuki Yahya, state Bersatu chief Mazlan Bujang, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waythamoorthy, Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Johor Umno chief Datuk Hasni Mohammad.
Dr Farid’s body was later taken to Wakaf Haji Ahmad Chokoh cemetery for burial at 5pm.
Dr Sahruddin said that before joining politics, Dr Farid was an anesthetic specialist at a private hospital in Melaka and his sudden passing was a huge loss for the country and Pakatan Harapan.
He said Dr Md Farid passed away due to heart complications.
“Dr Md Farid attended many programmes until the wee hours of Saturday morning and at about 6am, he went to the Pontian Hospital due to chest pain.
“A post mortem revealed Dr Md Farid had three main arteries to his heart blocked up to 90% and his main blood vessel to the brain was also blocked,” he added
Dr Md Farid, 42, who is the eldest of seven siblings, died at Pontian Hospital at around 6am yesterday morning, leaves behind wife Datin Farah Shazwani Hanis Ismail, 32, and three daughters between the ages of two and eight.