IPOH: Former Perak assembly Speaker Datuk Mat Isa Ismail, 74, passed away on Wednesday (July 24) afternoon.

The news of Mat Isa’s death was shared by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad in a Facebook post Wednesday night.

"Received the sad news that former Perak assembly Speaker Datuk Mat Isa Ismail passed away this afternoon. Al-Fatihah.

"May Allah SWT forgive his sins and place him among the righteous. May his family stay strong in this difficult time," he said.

Saarani also shared a picture that showed him performing prayers as well as attending the burial of the late Mat Isa.

Mat Isa was a former private secretary to the then defence minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak from 1993 to 1995, and was the Changkat Jering assemblyman for three terms from 1997 to 2008.

He was also the Bukit Gantang Umno chief from 2001 to 2003 and elected as the Perak assembly Speaker for one term from 2004. - Bernama