Rozaid Rahman, PM’s media and strategic communications director, passes away

PETALING JAYA: Rozaid Abdul Rahman (pic), the media and strategic communications director for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has passed away.

He started working with the Prime Minister on May 23, 2023.

Rozaid, 59, was suffering from a heart condition and was recuperating at his house in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya until his death at 7pm on Sunday (Aug 18).

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said he had been receiving treatment at the Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang since July 1 and was allowed to go home on Aug 6.

While in hospital, Rozaid was also visited by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and other Cabinet ministers.

Rozaid was previously with The Star, with his last position as group consulting editor.

Rozaid also served as Press Secretary to Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin when the latter was Higher Education Minister.

He later joined Sinar Harian on Jan 4, 2021 as group editor before ending his service with the publication on Dec 30, 2022.

He started his career in the media as a cadet reporter for Utusan Malaysia in April 1984.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Communications Minister and unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil confirmed his demise.

“The deceased was dedicated and committed in carrying out his duties.

“He was a friendly person, liked to help friends and was highly respected.

“His passing is a great loss for the media industry and he will be sorely missed,” he said.

Fahmi also extended his condolences to all family members and friends of the deceased.

Star Media Group chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng said it was a sad day for Star Media Group and herself personally.

“Roz was a long time staff with us and a personal friend to so many of us.

“He is irreplaceable, really. He was the savvy editor we all ran to for guidance to clear difficult, sensitive stories or other articles and he was the one we leaned on in times of crisis,” she said.

Ng said Rozaid was a gem not only to the editorial department but others in Star Media Group as well.

“I have lost a good friend, someone we not only worked with but ate and laughed with a lot. May his soul rest in peace,” she said.

Funeral prayers will be held at Masjid Putra Heights, Subang Jaya at 8.30am on Monday (Aug 19) and the burial will be in Sungai Dua, Penang.