Malaysian Islamic Opposition Leader Dies
Fadzil died at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia hospital, where he was being treated, at 10.30 A.M. (0230 GMT), PAS officials said.
Fadzil's leadership of the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) had been under attack by some hardline members before his illness struck. His death as the country braces for a possible general election next year.
Hundreds of people, including leaders of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling United National Malays Organization, were gathered at the hospital at the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur.
"It's a sense of loss to the party, Barisan Alternatif and the nation," said PAS Deputy President Abdul Hadi Awang, who is also Chief Minister of Terengganu state.
The party will meet in two to three days' time to name an acting president, said Zulkifli Sulong, editor of party newspaper ***Harakah***.
The official Bernama News Agency said Hadi, a religious scholar known for his dogmatism, will immediately take over Fadzil's duties.
But party leaders remained silent on the succession issue.
"We don't want to talk about it yet," said Mustafa Ali, one of three party vice presidents.
--- A Day After Mahathir Drama --- Fadzil, 65, died the morning after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad retracted his resignation within one hour of announcing it in a dramatic about-face at the ruling UMNO Party's annual assembly.
Fadzil's body will be flown in by the Malaysian Air Force to his northern home state of Kedah, where he held both his parliamentary and state assembly seats.
PAS wants to turn Malaysia into an Islamic state although Muslims have only a slim majority in the country.
The Islamic Party captured 27 of the 193 Federal Parliament seats and two of the 13 state assemblies in the 1999 election, when Mahathir lost the support of more than half the Malay vote.
The prime minister's multi-ethnic coalition still won a two-thirds majority thanks to backing from Chinese and Indian voters.
Mahathir stands for progressive and tolerant attitudes toward religious issues, and his government is quick to smother any moves it thinks could upset relations between the races.
Hadi plans to pass strict Islamic laws in the northeastern state of Terengganu next month, even though the Federal government is unlikely to let the state, which is over 90 percent Muslim, impose the punishments they lay down.
Islam's Hudud penal code calls for adulterers to be stoned to death and amputation of limbs for thieves.
The soft-spoken Fadzil, known for being hardworking and intelligent, joined PAS after completing a course on Islamic Sharia law at Al-Azhar University in Egypt in 1967.
Party members brushed aside suggestions that his death could mark a shift in party policies as potential successor Hadi is seen as a hardliner compared to the more moderate Fadzil.
"PAS will be the same," said Harakah's Zulkifli.
"We run the party through consensus not by one person." bc-malaysia-opposition-death (update 2) malaysia-opposition-death (update 2):update 2-malaysian islamic opposition leader dies (adds quotes, details throughout) by jalil hamid kuala lumpur, june 23 (reuters) - the leader of malaysia's main opposition, parti islam se-malaysia (pas) president fadzil noor, died on sunday morning after failing to recover from emergency heart surgery nearly two weeks ago.
fadzil died at the universiti kebangsaan malaysia hospital, where he was being treated, at 10.30 a.m. (0230 gmt), pas officials said.
fadzil's leadership of the parti islam se-malaysia (pas) had been under attack by some hardline members before his illness struck. his death as the country braces for a possible general election next year.
hundreds of people, including leaders of prime minister mahathir mohamad's ruling united national malays organisation, were gathered at the hospital at the suburbs of kuala lumpur.
"it's a sense of loss to the party, barisan alternatif and the nation," said pas deputy president abdul hadi awang, who is also chief minister of terengganu state.
the party will meet in two to three days' time to name an acting president, said zulkifli sulong, editor of party newspaper harakah.
the official bernama news agency said hadi, a religious scholar known for his dogmatism, will immediately take over fadzil's duties.
but party leaders remained silent on the succession issue.
"we don't want to talk about it yet," said mustafa ali, one of three party vice presidents.
a day after mahathir drama fadzil, 65, died the morning after prime minister mahathir mohamad retracted his resignation within one hour of announcing it in a dramatic about-face at the ruling umno party's annual assembly.
fadzil's body will be flown in by the malaysian air force to his northern home state of kedah, where he held both his parliamentary and state assembly seats.
pas wants to turn malaysia into an islamic state although muslims have only a slim majority in the country.
the islamic party captured 27 of the 193 federal parliament seats and two of the 13 state assemblies in the 1999 election, when mahathir lost the support of more than half the malay vote.
the prime minister's multi-ethnic coalition still won a two-thirds majority thanks to backing from chinese and indian voters.
mahathir stands for progressive and tolerant attitudes toward religious issues, and his government is quick to smother any moves it thinks could upset relations between the races.
hadi plans to pass strict islamic laws in the northeastern state of terengganu next month, even though the federal government is unlikely to let the state, which is over 90 percent muslim, impose the punishments they lay down.
islam's hudud penal code calls for adulterers to be stoned to death and amputation of limbs for thieves.
the soft-spoken fadzil, known for being hardworking and intelligent, joined pas after completing a course on islamic sharia law at university al-azhar in egypt in 1967.
party members brushed aside suggestions that his death could mark a shift in party policies as potential successor hadi is seen as a hardliner compared to the more moderate fadzil. "pas will be the same," said harakah's zulkifli. "we run the party through consensus not by one person