By Nik Nayly
KUALA LUMPUR, 12 July 2022: Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, 67, dies after being shot on Friday (July 8) while campaigning for an election in the city of Nara, Japan.
Dr. Hidetada Fukushima from Nara Medical University Hospital confirmed Shinzo Abe’s death at 5.03 p.m. due to excessive blood loss as the bullet had reached his heart.
According to reports, the suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, who used a homemade gun in the shooting, was arrested by police. He admitted to the crime as he holds a grudge against an unnamed organisation that is believed to be linked with Shinzo Abe.
Government sources mentioned that the suspect, Yamagami, was a former member of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force for three years.
Authorities had confiscated other handmade weapons found in the suspect’s house.
Besides that, Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dato’ Sri Saifuddin Abdullah in a press statement expressed his condolences to the family, government, and people of Japan for the demise of former Japan Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.
He said that Shinzo Abe will always be remembered for his significant contribution to Japan’s economic development, Malaysia’s Look East Policy, and the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan.
As Prime Minister, Abe visited Malaysia three times and played a key role in advancing and diversifying further bilateral relations with Malaysia, Saifuddin said.
Recently, the longest-serving prime minister of Japan received an Honorary Doctorate in Political Economics during the 36th convocation ceremony at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in March, 2022.
The IIUM community is deeply saddened by the passing of H.E. Dr Abe Shinzo and sends condolences to his family at this time of sorrow.***