Kuala Lumpur: Ayer Kuning assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin died today after collapsing following a friendly football match at Bandaraya Stadium here. He was 59.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Timur Laut police chief ACP Abdul Rozak Muhammad reported that Ishsam collapsed and became unresponsive after shaking hands with other players during the Chief Minister of Penang’s Four-Cornered Football Championship at the stadium. Emergency aid was administered on the field before Ishsam was rushed to Penang Hospital (HPP) at 5.40 pm.

“He was pronounced dead at the HPP Emergency Department at 6.28 pm,” Abdul Rozak stated in a formal release. Ishsam’s remains were subsequently sent to the HPP Forensic Medicine Department for a post-mortem examination.

Ishsam Shahruddin was known as a former national and Perak football player during the 1980s and 1990s. He held the position of Tapah UMNO chief and secured the Ayer Kuning state seat with a majority of 2,213 votes in the 15th General Election.