[UPDATED] Former chief secretary to govt Ali Hamsa dies at 66

KUALA LUMPUR – Former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa, 66, died early this morning, with members of the public taking to social media to convey their condolences to his family. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob conveyed in a statement his condolences to Ali’s family, saying that the former civil service chief was highly respected during his tenure from 2012 to 2018.

He noted Ali’s contributions to the country and that his death was a loss for Malaysia.

Among those posting about his passing include current Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali who said in a statement that Ali had died in a hospital in Dublin, Ireland. 

BELASUNGKAWA TAN SRI DR. ALI BIN HAMSA, KETUA SETIAUSAHA NEGARA KE-13 pic.twitter.com/fyboAtVvfa

— Mohd Zuki Ali (@zukiAli_) April 21, 2022

“His departure during the holy month of Ramadan is a big loss to the nation and the civil service forces,” he said. 

Zuki said Ali has made many contributions to the country through his service in various government ministries such as the International Trade and Industry Ministry, Transport Ministry and the Public Service Department. 

Selangor Barisan Nasional information chief Isham Jalil also shared on Facebook his experience of working with Ali under the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister’s Office back in 2008.

“At that time, Ali was my boss and the deputy director-general (sectoral). He was a good person. May his soul be showered with blessings and placed among the righteous.” 

The Johorean was appointed as the 13th chief secretary to the government in June 2012 and left office in August 2018.

In his early years, he joined the Administrative and Diplomatic Service as an assistant director at Miti in 1981, and went on to become senior project manager (economy and public policy management) at the National Institute of Public Administration. 

Ali had also co-authored two books, namely Dasar-dasar Utama Kerajaan in 1997 and Malaysia Kita in 1998. 

In October 2017, he became the first Malaysian to receive an honorary science doctorate from B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai, India. – The Vibes, April 21, 2022