KUALA LUMPUR – The late former director-general of the Public Service Department, Tan Sri Osman S. Cassim, who played a key role in solving the hostage crisis that took place at the AIA Building in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur in 1975, died yesterday.
The 93-year-old died of old age.
He was laid to rest at the Taman Sri Sinar Muslim Cemetery, Segambut, here at 11.25am today, Bernama reported.
Earlier, the body was taken to the Al Ubudiah Mosque, Segambut Dalam, to be bathed and shrouded, followed by the funeral prayer led by Imam Mohd Arifin Zulkatlay.
Over 30 people, including family members, relatives, and friends, attended the burial ceremony.
Among those present to pay their last respects at the mosque were the prime minister’s wife, who is also Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, and Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Integrity Committee chairman Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat.
Osman’s son, Dr Samsudin said that Osman died at Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Ampang at 10.20pm.
Samsudin also expressed gratitude to all parties who assisted with his father’s funeral arrangements.
The late Osman had served as an administrative and diplomatic officer for 30 years and held several positions, including secretary-general in several ministries and public service director-general until his retirement in 1985.
He was later active in the Malaysian Institute of Management and served as a board member and chairman of Southern Bank Bhd until 2005 and Hai-O Group chairman for 15 years.
He was also awarded the Royal Order of the Polar Star by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in 2009 in recognition of his service during the Japanese Red Army hostage crisis in Malaysia in 1975.
The crisis that occurred on August 4 involved five members of the Japanese Red Army (JRA) storming the 9th floor of the AIA Insurance building, which housed several foreign embassies, including those of the United States and Sweden.
During the incident, the JRA militants seized 53 hostages, mostly Malaysians, and demanded the release of seven imprisoned JRA leaders in Japan.
The crisis lasted four days, during which the hostages were confined to the 9th floor.
Negotiations were conducted through a freight elevator that was inaccessible to the terrorists. – 15, 2024