KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed sadness over the passing of the founder and first president of the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM), Dr Razali Nawawi.
Razali died at An-Nur Specialist Hospital at 6.45am today.
He was 83.
In a Facebook post, Anwar said Razali persevered with him and their friends, as well as being one of the teachers in the movement's struggle that was full of twists and turns.
"I had the chance to visit him last week, he was very ill. May Allah have mercy on his soul and forgive all his mistakes.
"(I am) praying for his family and loved ones left behind to persevere and be blessed with strength by Allah. Innalillahi wainnailaihirajiun (We surely belong to Allah and to Him we shall return)," he said.
On May 13, the prime minister spent time visiting Razali at his residence.
ABIM president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz said Razali died of prostate cancer.
The funeral prayers will be held for Razali at Masjid Al-Umum in Section 1, Bandar Baru Bangi, after Zohor prayers.
Razali became ABIM's first president in1972 and introduced the usrah system (an Islamic group work approach) before being succeeded by Anwar as the second ABIM president in 1974. -- Bernama
