The ailing mother of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, Che Yan Hamid Hussin, 74, passed away at about 8.40pm tonight at the University Hospital in Petaling Jaya.

She was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on Sunday after suffering a heart attack.

Che Yan, fondly known as Mak Yan, suffered another heart attack this morning. Anwar, who has been hospitalised for an acute back problem at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, was granted permission by prison authorities late this evening to visit her.

The body is to be taken back to Anwar's residence at Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur later tonight.

PAS leader Fadzil Noor, DAP chief Lim Kit Siang, and a small group of opposition supporters were at the hospital to express their sympathies to Anwar.