Former federal minister and Sabah veteran politician Abdul Ghani Gilong died today at the age of 88.

According to his granddaughter Cheri Gilong Avriett, Abdul Ghani died of old age at 12.12 am at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.

In sharing news of Abdul Ghani's passing on Facebook, Cheri and his son-in-law Norman Radzuan asked the people to pray for his soul to be placed among the righteous.

Abdul Ghani had served as a cabinet minister under the first three prime ministers of Malaysia, with his last post being works and public services minister in 1978.

Abdul Ghani, who was born on May 30, 1932, in Kampung Matan, Ranau, was one of the Sabah leaders involved in the formation of Malaysia.

Sabah Finance Minister II and state Local Government and Housing Minister Masidi Manjun were among state leaders who expressed their condolences.

 Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Taufiq Yap Yun Hin also expressed his sympathies. - Bernama