KUALA LUMPUR (May 26): Former New Straits Times Press (NSTP) group editor, Datuk Ahmad A. Talib died at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) here at 5.42 pm today.

He was 69-years-old.

The sad news of the death of the former director of News and Editorial Operations, Media Prima Bhd was shared by the deceased’s daughter Sophia Ahmad in a post on her Facebook page.

Sophia also informed that her father’s remains would be taken to Masjid Al Muqarrobin, Bandar Tasik Selatan for prayers.

The solat jenazah, she said, will be conducted at the same venue. God willing, the body of the deceased will be buried today. Hopefully those who know him will say Al Fatihah for him, may Allah bless and love his soul,” said the post.

Meanwhile, Sophia, when contacted by Bernama, said her father was diagnosed with liver cancer about a month ago, while receiving treatment at a private hospital in the capital.

“Then he was admitted to UMMC on the first day of Syawal, before his death today. The deceased will be buried at the Muslim cemetery in Sungai Besi,” said Sophia, a Berita Harian reporter.

He is survived by his wife, Datin Nur Shima Daud, 66, and four children and a granddaughter.

Ahmad began his career as a cadet reporter with the Economic Service of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) in 1972, before leaving and serving at Business Times (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (formerly Financial Publications Sdn Bhd) in 1978, and then with Berita Harian around 1985.

In 1987, Ahmad became assistant editor of Berita Harian and held several key positions such as news editor at New Straits Times; chief news editor, associate editor and assistant Group editor of NST around 1991 to 1996.

He was subsequently appointed group editor of New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd (NSTP) in 1998 and was redesignated as Group general manager, Communications and Editorial Marketing in 2004 before opting for an early retirement from the Group in 2005

In July 2009, Ahmad re-joined the NSTP and was appointed executive director of the newspaper and Media Prima Bhd (MPB), and assumed the role of MPB Group advisor, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in 2013.