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THE remains of Ayer Kuning assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin, who passed away on Saturday, February 22, will be returned to his home in Desa Seri Ampang, Ipoh, for burial.
His body was released from the Forensic Medicine Department of Penang Hospital (HPP) after a post-mortem and were transported back to his home in Ipoh at approximately 10:40 pm last night.
The hearse carrying Ishsam’s body was accompanied by a police MPV, along with family vehicles and several cars from the leadership of UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) Perak, Bernama reported.
Ishsam's wife, Rozlita Abdullah, 55, was seen briefly lowering the window of the car and thanking the media. She appeared visibly distressed and was comforted by friends while waiting for the post-mortem to conclude.
Meanwhile, Northeast district police chief ACP Abdul Rozak Muhammad confirmed that the post-mortem had determined the cause of death as a heart attack.
“The post-mortem, which began at 9pm at the HPP Forensic Medicine Department, concluded that the Ayer Kuning assemblyman passed away due to acute coronary syndrome," he stated. "The body was brought home at 10:40 pm."
Bernama reported Ishsam's son, Muhammad Izrul Imadi, 32, expressing his gratitude to those who assisted in handling his father’s remains that night.
"The last time I saw my father was this (yesterday) morning, and he appeared excited about participating in the football match as he had been a football player in the past," he said.
"My father is indeed a person who takes care of his health and he also practices a healthy lifestyle, that's why we are surprised because the deceased did not have any health problems including heart disease or anything," he said, adding, “this made his sudden death all the more surprising”.
The eldest of four siblings, he said his father checked his blood pressure and sugar at home every day and went jogging often.
"I was in Ipoh and got a phone call informing me that my father had passed away after playing football here, we were very shocked and immediately came to the hospital to find out the exact cause of the incident.
Ishsam, born on August 31, 1966, was a former national football player and had represented Perak in the 1980s and 1990s.
The assemblyman passed away after losing consciousness following a friendly football match at the City Stadium in Penang earlier in the afternoon. He collapsed while shaking hands with other players at the sidelines during the Penang Chief Minister's Cup Four-Cornered Football Tournament.
According to Perak Umno and Barisan Nasional executive secretary, Datuk Mohd Salleh Mat Disa, Ishsam’s body will be transferred to Ipoh after undergoing a post-mortem at the Penang Hospital Forensic Medicine Department.
"I was informed that the body will be bathed and shrouded at his home in Ipoh and the burial will be completed at 10am on Sunday (Feb 23) at the Rapat Setia Islamic Cemetery in Ipoh," he told reporters at the HPP Forensic Medicine Department here on Saturday night.
He added that the Perak Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, was promptly notified of Ishsam’s death and had instructed officials to assist with the funeral arrangements.
The burial is set to take place on Sunday, February 23, at 10 a.m. at the Rapat Setia Islamic Cemetery in Ipoh. The body will first be bathed and shrouded at Ishsam's residence in Ipoh, in line with Islamic funeral rites.
Datuk Mohd Salleh Mat Disa, who had accompanied Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow—who had just returned from Japan—to visit Ishsam's family, conveyed his condolences at the hospital.
Bernama cited that several prominent Umno and Barisan Nasional leaders from Penang and Perak were also present, including Penang Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Shaik Hussein Mydin and Umno state liaison secretary Datuk Shah Headan Ayub Shah.
Ishsam’s wife, Rozlita and their son, Muhammad Iszul Imadi were at the hospital during the visit.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who also expressed his condolences to the family at the hospital, noted the shock felt by the community over Ishsam's sudden death, especially as the late assemblyman had been involved in the Chief Minister's Cup football tournament at the time.
Among those present were Penang Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Shaik Hussein Mydin and Umno state liaison secretary Datuk Shah Headan Ayub Shah. – February 23, 2025