A former senator and independence fighter Abdullah Salleh died of old age at his home in Taman Fauziah in Kangar last night. He was 89.

His son, Jasmi, 58, said his father breathed his last surrounded by his children and close relatives at 10.05pm.

His remains will be buried at the Alor Sena Muslim Cemetery in Jalan Kaki Bukit at noon today.

Abdullah leaves behind a widow Siti Aishah Ahmad, 67, seven children, 32 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Abdullah, a Sultan Idris Teachers' College graduate and whose last post in the teaching profession was as the Sekolah Kebangsaan Beseri principal, was among those involved in the fight for the country's independence through his participation in Umno since the party's inception in 1946.

He was appointed senator for a term in mid-70s.

- Bernama