CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow has conveyed the state government’s and his personal condolences to the family of Ishsam Shahruddin, who passed away at Penang Hospital today.
Ishsam, the 59-year-old Ayer Kuning assemblyman from Perak, reportedly fainted and lost consciousness during the Chief Minister’s Cup Football Championship at the City Stadium in Penang today.
“I was shocked to receive the news upon landing at Penang International Airport after my official trip to Japan,” Chow told reporters outside the Forensic Medicine Department at Penang Hospital, where he went directly from the airport.
“His family is here, and all arrangements have been made to send the body back to Ipoh tonight.”
Forensic pathologist Dr Chandroth Navin Pankajakshan was present to brief Chow, Ishsam’s family members, and close friends.
Among those at the Forensic Department were Ishsam’s wife, Rozlita Abdullah, 55, his second son, Muhammad Iszul Imadi, 30, as well as Perak Umno and Barisan Nasional executive secretary Datuk Mohd Salleh Mat Disa, Balik Pulau Umno Division chief Dr Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah, and Penang Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Dr Shaik Hussein Mydin.
Mohd Salleh, who was instructed by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad to oversee the logistics, expressed gratitude to Chow for his support and assistance.
“I want to thank Chief Minister Chow for coming here and helping to facilitate the process. I appreciate that the body can be discharged within a short period.
“The body will be taken back to Ipoh tonight, with burial scheduled for 10am tomorrow. However, the burial site has yet to be decided,” Mohd Salleh said.
Muhammad Iszul Imadi said he was shocked by his father’s sudden passing, as there were no signs of heart-related issues.
“Overall, he was a healthy man. He often went jogging, took supplements and monitored his blood pressure,” said Muhammad Iszul, who was seen consoling his grieving mother.
According to Northeast District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rozak Muhammad, Ishsam collapsed at approximately 5.20pm and was rushed to Penang Hospital around 5.40pm after receiving emergency aid on the field.
However, he was pronounced dead at the hospital’s Emergency Department at 6.28pm.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix and video by Alissala Thian