malaysiangKUANTAN, Jan 11 — Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamad, the press secretary to Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, who died today believed to be due to blood cancer, was respected and admired by many.
Those who had the chance to get to know him better, including his siblings, friends and media practitioners in Pahang will admit that he was kind, always helpful, good natured and easy to get along with.
The deceased’s elder brother Shamsuddin, 63, said Abdul Wahab who was the seventh of eight siblings was always caring towards his family members and did not like to trouble others even when he was ill.
“He started feeling unwell since last year, and as soon as inter-state travel was allowed, I went to Pahang to visit him. My brother was sorry for the inconvenience he had caused me as I had to travel all the way from Pasir Gudang, Johor to see him, ” he said when met at Indera Mahkota Mosque here today.
Shamsuddin said Abdul Wahab’s health condition had worsened since December last year and he had to make frequent trips to two hospitals here, until he died at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) at 5.42pm today.
Abdul Wahab, 61, who opted for early retirement from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) on June 1, 2006, leaves behind a wife, two daughters and two grandchildren.
He had served under three Pahang Menteris Besar, namely Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob in 1995, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob beginning 1999, followed by Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail from 2018.
Born in Perak, Abdul Wahab who was raised in Penang and had received his education in schools in Kedah, was described as smart and had always been a journalist at heart even before he joined Bernama as a news officer in 1984.
Meanwhile, Bernama chief executive officer Datuk Mokhtar Hussain said Abdul Wahab, whom he had known since he was single, had always been big-hearted and one who has a lot of empathy.
“Abdul Wahab had always valued friendship. Whenever I was in Kuantan, he would make time to meet me despite his busy schedule. He was respectful to others,” he said.
Former journalists who had served in Pahang agreed with Mokhtar because Abdul Wahab would still keep in touch with them even though he was no longer with the media.
Zamzurina Ahmad, 40, who opted for the voluntary separation scheme (VSS) offered by Utusan Malaysia in 2019, said Abdul Wahab was also close to her husband and would often ask how her three children were doing.
“I have known him for 13 years and I appreciate all the advice he had given. He was always ready to help and welcomed the presence of the media. He would also make the newbies feel at ease, “ she said.
Astro Awani journalist Mohd Zalani Md Atan, 61, described Abdul Wahab as a gentle soul who had made it so much easier for journalists in their work even when the issues raised were not very much in favour of the state government.
“Over the past few months, he had been advising me to take care of my diet and health. I was shocked to learn he was in critical condition today because he kept his illness a secret, “ he said.
Utusan Malaysia part-time reporter, Diana Surya Abdul Wahab, 40, said Abdul Wahab acted like a father-figure to young journalists and he had always reminded them that they were all like his own children.
“He would invite us over when there is a feast or gathering and will never decline when we invite him to our family or official functions,” she said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
