Ex-minister Abang Abu Bakar dies

KUCHING: Former politician Tan Sri Abang Abu Bakar Abang Mustapha passed away today in Kuala Lumpur.

His demise at 9.55 am was announced via a WhatsApp message.

Abang Abu Bakar, 82, is a former minister in the Prime Minister Department from 1990 to 1999.

In the first cabinet of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he held the positions of Deputy Minister of Defence and subsequently Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 1990 to 1999, before serving as the Minister of Defence from 1999 to 2003.

The son of the late Datuk Bandar Mustapha also held the role as the deputy president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) from 1988 to 1998.

Abang Abu Bakar was also an assemblyman for Kuching West then from 1973 to 1981 and also represented Satok constituency from 1979 to 1981.

His was a Member of Parliament for Paloh from 1981 to 1990 and later Kuala Rajang from 1990 to 2000.