Ani Arope, 82, passed away today at 5.20am while undergoing treatment at the Sime Darby Ramsay Medical Centre in Subang Jaya.

The former chief of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) had been fighting a battle against prostate cancer over the past two years.

After a short funeral, his body was buried at Seksyen 21 Muslim Cemetery IN Shah Alam this afternoon. Condolences can also be posted on Ani Arope’s Facebook page .

Ani was TNB executive chairman from 1992 to 1996 besides having been chief executive of several private companies, a higher institution of learning and various organisations.

    

He is best known for standing his ground in 1996 and quit his post as executive chairperson in TNB instead of signing the lopsided deal with independent power producers controlled by a number of cronies of then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Under the deal, TNB was forced to buy electricity generated by these IPPs at a significantly higher price.

He released his memoirs last year.

In the book ‘Memoirs of Tan Sri Ani Arope’ published by the Fulbright Alumni Association of Malaysia, Ani revealed how, after the landmark blackout in Peninsular Malaysia in 1992, TNB was forced to surrender the land it had acquired in Paka, Terengganu, and Pasir Gudang, Johor, to a third party for power plants.

In his twilight years, Ani was also an avid licensed pilot and has flown many hours.

'He had been a fighter'

Born in May 17, 1932 in Sungai Bakap, Seberang Perai, Penang, the late Ani Arope left behind wife Saenah Ahmad and three children - Sakinah, Salina and Ismail.

Sakinah said her father had been battling cancer for a long time.

"We had expected him to go," she said. "In fact, we are relieved that he is now resting in peace. He had been a fighter all throughout the time that he was not well."

Her younger daughter, Salina, who is still in Switzerland, said the family has accepted the fate.

"From God, we came, to God, we shall return," she wrote in her WhatsApp message to Sakinah. "Thank you for being there for him."

Salina added: "What a journey (that father has taken). We pity him. He had endured so much medical treatment. Too much... He had been a soldier and braved through so many treatments."

Among the dignitaries who came were the Sultan of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail , former minister Sanusi Junid, nephew Hamid Pawanteh, Lembah Pantai parliamentarian Nurul Izzah, Raja Eleena Sultan Azlan Shah and his oncologist, Dr Ahmad Kamal, who cut short of his holiday in order to be present for the funeral.

'A caring man'

Meanwhile according to Bernama , Prime Minister Najib Razak conveyed his condolences to Ani's family via Twitter.     

"My condolences to the family of TS (Tan Sri) Ani Arope who passed away this morning. May his soul be placed among the believers. Al-Fatihah," he said in his Twitter posting.    

Bernama also reported Ani's 42-year-old son Ismail saying his father's caring attitude was evident as he had more than 50 adopted children of various backgrounds and race.     

"He has so many adopted children that even we don't know (the actual figure). Some are overseas. He liked to provide assistance, especially financial, for them to further their studies," he said.     

He said Ani had hid his illness from family members and they only found out about it in 2010, when the cancer was at stage four.     

"Since then we spent more time together and the best memory was performing umrah as a family in 2011," he said.     

Ismail added that his father always reminded them to serve the country, society and religion.     

Apart from TNB, Ani has held the posts of Bank Simpanan Nasional chairman, Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd chief executive and Malaysia Rubber Research Institute director.     

He was the first deputy director of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) from 1969 - 1972.      

Ani has also served as chairman of the Mara Institute of Technology Council, chairman of the Universiti Sains Malaysia Board of Directors and chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).    

ANI AROPE'S MEMOIRS

Part 1: Race riots could be costly, warns Ani Arope in memoirs

Part 2: Ultra Malays out to polarise nation, warns Ani Arope

Part 3: Ani Arope on how TNB got a raw deal from IPPs

Part 4: Why such uneasiness among Muslims over 'Allah'?