-min.png)
Former Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Zakaria Kasa, 67, recently acquitted and discharged of power abuse charges by the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya, passed away yesterday due to complications from heart disease.
Zakaria's son, Mohd Fauzi, 34, revealed that his father succumbed to the prolonged battle with heart disease at Slim River Hospital around 12.30 pm, surrounded by family members. Despite his recent legal victory, Zakaria's health took a downturn, leading to his hospitalization the day after the court ruling.
The late professor, who held the position at UPSI from 2007 to 2018, had been grappling with heart issues for several years. Following the court's decision on Thursday, he returned to Tanjung Malim (Muallim). However, on Friday, his health deteriorated, resulting in unconsciousness and subsequent hospitalization.
Mohd Fauzi shared that the funeral proceedings took place at UPSI’s Al-Mursyidin Mosque, with Zakaria's remains slated to be transported to his hometown in Kodiang Lama, Kedah, for burial later tonight. This marks the conclusion of a chapter in the life of a man who had dedicated years to the education sector.
Zakaria's legacy extends beyond his legal challenges. His tenure at UPSI saw significant contributions to the institution from 2007 to 2018, demonstrating his commitment to education. The news of his demise comes as a poignant moment for the academic community and those who knew him personally.
The Court of Appeal's decision to acquit and discharge Zakaria pertained to allegations of power abuse a decade ago, specifically regarding the inclusion of his son's name in a list of job interviewees at UPSI. The legal victory, unfortunately, was overshadowed by his untimely passing.
Survived by his wife and six children, Zakaria Kasa leaves behind a mixed legacy, with his contributions to education standing alongside the controversies surrounding his time at UPSI. As his family and the academic community mourn his loss, the impact of his work in higher education will be remembered and debated.
Evon Anak Jerim is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.