KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 ― Former Lord President Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas died at 3.20am today, a day after he was admitted to the intensive care unit of Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah in Kuala Terengganu for Covid-19.

He was 91.

His death was confirmed by as-Salihin Trustee Berhad president and CEO, Abdul Aziz Peru Mohamed who had also confirmed Salleh as testing positive for Covid-19.

Salleh had been chairman of its board.

Bernama reported Terengganu Health Director Dr Nor Azimi Yunus saying Salleh died while in intensive care.

The national news agency also reported Salleh’s daughter, Natlrah, confirming her father was 91 and said that he died of pneumonia.

"His remains will be buried at the Sheikh Ibrahim Islamic Cemetery in Jalan Pusara, Kuala Terengganu,” she told Bernama.

Salleh had headed the country’s judiciary from 1984 until the constitutional crisis of 1988 when he was unceremoniously sacked from his position, along with several other senior judges in the Supreme Court, as the highest court was called then.

He had also contested as a PAS representative and won a state seat in Jertih, Terengganu in the 1999 general election.