The late Umno Paya Besar MP Abdul Manan Ismail was a leader who had contributed so much not only to Umno but also to the people he represented, Najib Abdul Razak said last night.

The prime minister said this was because Abdul Manan had discharged his duties with the highest level of dedication throughout his service.

Najib said he was deeply saddened by Abdul Manan’s death as the two-term MP had once served as his private secretary when he (Najib) was youth and sports minister.

“I have known him for years and we were close friends.

“I’m deeply saddened by his sudden demise, not only as Paya Besar MP, but as a close friend to me and my family,” he said after paying his last respects to Abdul Manan at the latter’s house in Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur.

Also present was the prime minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor.

Also paying their last respects to Abdul Manan last night were Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Yang Dipertua Negeri of Malacca Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar and Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Jailani Johari.

Abdul Manan died about 6.45pm after falling in the bathroom at his house in Taman Melawati.

The funeral prayers will be held at the Al-Hidayah Mosque, Taman Melawati and the remains will be laid to rest at the Klang Gate Muslim cemetery after the Zohor prayers today.

Zahid said he had known Abdul Manan ever since they worked together under Najib when he (Najib) was the youth and sports minister.

“He was my colleague, he was the private secretary and I was the political secretary to Datuk Seri Najib.

“As an MP, he had also worked closely with me as he would report certain things to me as the Barisan Nasional parliamentary whip chief,” said Zahid, who also prayed that Abdul Manan's soul be blessed and placed among the righteous.

- Bernama