A member of the opposition party PAS o­n trial for defaming Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad by accusing him of watching pornography died yesterday, local media reported.

Bunyamin Yaacob, who was the PAS information officer for Kelantan, died in hospital aged 56 while

receiving treatment for a kidney disorder, the official Bernama news agency said.

Buniyamin was charged after telling a political rally in March last year that Mahathir watched pornographic videotapes with his grandchildren.

He pleaded not guilty but his trial was postponed several times because of his ill health, Bernama said. - AFP