Former Kunak assemblyman passes away
KOTA KINABALU: Umno Sabah’s Assistant Information Chief Datuk Nilwan Kabang passed away at the Gleneagles Hospital Kota Kinabalu early Sunday morning.
The 71-year-old veteran Sabahan politician had recovered from Covid-19, but was receiving treatment for lung infection.
His eldest daughter Nurina said that doctors had told them that her father had recovered from Covid-19, but was battling a lung infection.
“He was doing quite well, but his condition worsened sometime after midnight,” she said when met at the Muslim Cemetery in Kg Ulu, Putatan, near here where his father was laid to rest around noon.
Umno Sabah Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the passing of the former Kunak State Assemblyman is a big loss to the rakyat, especially to the party. Bung described Nilwan as a strong man who did not give up easily and was always calm in the face of challenges.
“The late Nilwan was a close friend of mine. We have been involved and fought in our political career since the era of Usno until Umno expanded to Sabah. We fought together, that’s why I describe him as a strong-minded leader who is always fighting (for the rakyat),” the Deputy Chief Minister said in a statement.
“On behalf of the Umno Sabah’s big family, I extend my condolences to the late Nilwan’s wife Datin Amnani Abdullah and all family members. May they persevere in facing this difficult moment,” he said.
Nilwan had held several state posts including as the Assistant Rural Development Minister.
He was the Kunak assemblyman for two terms from 2008 to 2018, before losing the seat to Parti Warisan Sabah’s Norazlinah Arif.