Pictures and video by Edmund Samunting
KOTA KINABALU: The death of Datuk Siringan Gubat came as a shock to family members of the Resource Development and Information Technology Minister.
Siringan, 68, succumbed to a heart attack last night at a private hospital here. He is survived by his wife, Datin Rozelind Wong, five children and a grandchild.
“This is all too sudden,” said his eldest son Rexie when met at the Fook Lu Siew funeral parlour where a wake service will be held until Friday when he will be brought back to Kampung Kinarasan, Ranau to be buried the following day.
Family members and friends of the Paginatan assemblyman began gathering at the parlour from early this morning where prayers were also held.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who will be arriving here for a two day visit, is also expected to pay his respects later.
Resource Development and Information Technology Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Bruno Vun said the state lost yet another caring leader.
Vun said this in reference to the death of Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan a week ago.
“It is not easy to find a leader like Datuk Siringan. He is humble and was a caring person.”
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said he was saddened by Siringan’s death as he lost a good long-time friend.
"I was shocked when I got the news, as I thought he was recovering before this,” he said of Siringan who had a heart attack earlier last year.
"I knew him personally since we were young, and we were close because both of us are from Ranau," he said and described his death as a huge loss to Ranau and Sabah.
"The late Siringan was someone who was easy to talk to, I hope and pray for his family to be strong in facing this trying period," said Masidi.