The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research founder’s death was confirmed by his close friend and executive director of the Asia-Europe Institute at Universiti Malaya, Rajah Rasiah.

“He was a great academician and a brilliant economist (and) it is quite shocking to hear about his passing,” said Rajah in a Bernama report.

Former National Economic Action Council executive director Noor Azlan Ghazali described the Perak-born Kamal as a trusted adviser to national leaders and a respected economist who contributed to the country’s development and progress.

“He was a mentor who guided me a lot, and he imparted much knowledge to me and his students,” he said in a Facebook post.

Kamal served as professor and dean of the School of Social Sciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia and established the university’s Centre for Policy Research.

He was a member of a prime ministerial economic panel from 1981 to 1986 and served on the Malaysian Business Council from 1991 to 1996.

He played a key role as rapporteur-general of the National Economic Consultative Council from 1989 to 1991, which was instrumental in shaping the country’s economic development policies.

One of his most notable contributions to education is the establishment of Malaysia’s first private medical college, the International Medical University (IMU), in 1992.

He served as its executive chairman until 2004 and as a leading figure in the development of private medical education in Malaysia.

Kamal was also appointed an economic adviser in the National Implementation Task Force during Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration from 2006 to 2008.

He also served as chairman of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

Beyond academia, Kamal was involved in politics, serving as the Wangsa Maju MP from 1995 to 1999.

It is understood that funeral prayers were held at Masjid Raudhatul Jannah in Dengkil after asar prayers, followed by his burial at the mosque’s cemetery in Kampung Sungai Buah.