KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi died on Monday, aged 85, his family and medical authorities reported.

Abdullah became Malaysia`s fifth prime minister in 2003, following the resignation of veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad after 22 years at the helm. The former premier died at 7:10pm at the National Heart Institute in the capital Kuala Lumpur, his son-inlaw and former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in an Instagram post, without specifying a cause of death.

Abdullah was admitted to the National Heart Institute on Sunday after experiencing breathing difficulties and was immediately placed underintensive care, the institute said in a statement.

`Despite all medical efforts, he passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,` the institute said. As premier of the Muslim-majority country, Abdullah embarked on an anti-corruption drive and espoused a moderate version of Islam that aimed for economic and technological progress over religious fundamentalism.-Reuters