PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad expressed grief over the death of his close friend, Khalid Abdullah, who has passed away.
In a tribute on his blog, Mahathir, who referred to his friend as Khalid Julong, said the former assemblyman’s passing marked “the end of a generation of Malay warriors”.
“Khalid, Azahari Taib, Khir Johari, Khir Pa’ Awang, Hj Taha, Chegu Senu and the others are all no more,” he said.
“I’m all alone. I am sad. They were all old friends. I am lonely.”
Khalid died of old age at 5.50am at the Kedah Medical Centre yesterday. He was 98.
A veteran politician, Khalid was a Kedah state executive councillor and Umno Supreme Council member. He served as Alor Merah assemblyman from 1975 to 1980.
Mahathir said they had first met shortly after World War II ended, when they were both part of Saberkas, an awareness group comprising young Malays.