Tan Sri Megat Junid passes away

PETALING JAYA: Former Deputy Home Minister Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayub passed away at 5.25am Thursday at the Pantai Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur. He was 65.
The body will leave his Kelana Jaya home at 12.30pm for the mosque, then on to the Kiara Cemetery in Damansara here for burial.
Also the former Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, Megat Junid had been seriously ill for months. He had undergone surgery for prostate cancer in 2004, but the cancer recurred in 2006 and spread to his liver, lung and bones.
Born in Teluk Intan in 1942, the teacher first met former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the early 1970s when the latter was in political exile for criticising Tunku Abdul Rahman, then Umno president and prime minister.
He was swept away by Dr Mahathir's unconventional political style and soon after left teaching to become a special assistant then political secretary to Dr Mahathir.
He made his political debut as an MP when Dr Mahathir won his first general election as Prime Minister. Two years later he was made Primary Industries Deputy Minister.
In 1986, Dr Mahathir made him his deputy in the Home Affairs Ministry, a post that many agreed was as good as that of Minister given the trust that Dr Mahathir had in him.
His tenure in the ministry was often very controversial and coincided with massive illegal immigrant, the controversial Operation Lalang in 1987 and escalating drug issues.
Megat Junid was finally promoted to Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister in 1997 but held the post for only two years because he lost to a PAS candidate in the Reformasi (reformation) fervour of the 1999 elections.

Megat Junid's Death A Loss To Nation, Say Leaders

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- Several leaders Thursday described the death of former Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayob as a great loss to the nation.
Megat Junid died of cancer in Kuala Lumpur early Thursday. He was 65.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he was saddened by the demise of "a close friend and colleague".
He said Megat Junid had contributed a lot to the government and country.
"He was known for being a jovial character," Najib told reporters after officiating the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Public Service Commission, here.
In PETALING JAYA, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the nation had lost a leader of quality.
"Megat Junid was hardworking, honest, and a minister of quality," he told reporters after paying his last respects at the residence of Megat Junid in Kelana Jaya.
Dr Mahathir, who arrived at the residence with his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali at 9.15am, described Megat Junid as a spirited individual and said that when he met Megat Junid three weeks ago, he was talking about politics despite being ill.
Megat Junid had served for nine months as the political secretary of Dr Mahathir when the latter was education minister in 1976.
Megat Junid, who launched his career in politics in 1972, had served for 13 years as a deputy minister and four years as a minister. He had also served as the Umno information chief from 2000 to 2003.
Former deputy information minister Datuk Khalid Yunus, who also paid his last respects at the residence, said Megat Junid had served Umno and the country well.
"We have lost a good leader and I have lost a friend," he said, adding that he came to know Megat Junid when both of them joined Umno Youth in the 1970's.
Umno Information Chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, who had known Megat Junid for 30 years, said his death was a big loss to Umno.
"Megat Junid was very humble and was a grassroots man. He portrayed a good image of the party and government," he said.
"Umno is most indebted to him. His deeds will be cherished," he said.
PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, in a statement to Bernama, extended his condolences to the family of Megat Junid.

tunku : AL FATIHAH