Former deputy rural development minister and ex-Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman, died today from blood cancer (multiple myeloma).

Zainal Abidin was 58.

According to his older brother, Dr Omar Osman, he died at the Ampang Hospital at 2.07am.

“His remains will be taken to Penang for burial after the Asar prayer at the cemetery at Masjid Sungai Acheh, Nibong Tebal.

"Read him the al-Fatihah and I, on behalf of his family, seek forgiveness if he had wronged anyone,” he said in a posting on the social media.

- Bernama