Abdullah was often credited with having coined the term ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ in a speech he made in Singapore, which was regarded to mean Malay supremacy. He later denied that it meant Malay political overlordship over other communities.

He was political secretary to second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak, when he was detained in 1976 under the Internal Security Act together with another aide, press secretary Abdullah Majid, and New Straits Times managing editor A Samad Ismail.

All three were accused of being involved with a communist plot after allegations surfaced in Singapore about a Berita Harian editor.

The three were detained under the government of Hussein Onn, who had taken over on Tun Razak’s death, and were released after Dr Mahathir Mohamad took office in 1981.

Abdullah became known as Dollah Kok Lanas for being MP for that constituency in Kelantan, and to distinguish him from his fellow Razak aide, also Abdullah. He was previously MP for Machang.

After his release from detention, he served with the Malaysian mission to the United Nations in New York. In 2002, Abdullah became editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times but was relieved of his post in 2003.

Sinar Harian reported that the veteran politican breathed his last at the Pantai Hospital in Kuala Lumpur where he had reportedly been receiving treatment for cancer.

He leaves his wife Fauzah Mohamad Darus and three children.