Ishsam bin Shahruddin (31 August 1966 – 22 February 2025) was a Malaysian politician, footballer, businessman and contractor who served as Member of the

Perak State Legislative Assembly The Perak State Legislative Assembly () is the unicameral state legislature of the Malaysian state of Perak. It is composed of 59 members representing single-member constituencies throughout the state. Elections are held no more than five years a ...

(MLA) for

Ayer Kuning Ayer Kuning is a mukim (township) and village in Tampin District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It borders Nyalas and Asahan, Malacca to the southwest and south, and Jementah Jementah ( Jawi: جمنته) is a mukim in Segamat District, Joho ...

from November 2022 to his

death in office A death in office is the death of a person who was incumbent of an office-position until the time of death. Such deaths have been usually due to natural causes, but they are also caused by accidents, suicides, disease and assassinations. The deat ...

in February 2025. He was a member of the

United Malays National Organisation The United Malays National Organisation (Abbreviation, abbrev: UMNO; , PEKEMBAR) is a Conservatism, conservative, Nationalism, Malay nationalist political party in Malaysia. As the oldest national political party in the country (since its ince ...

(UMNO), a component party of the

Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional (BN; ) is a political coalition of Malaysia that was founded in 1974 as a coalition of centre-right and right-wing political parties to succeed the Alliance Party. It is the third largest political coalition with 30 seats in ...

(BN) coalition. He was also the Division Chief of BN and UMNO of

Tapah Tapah is a town and the capital of Batang Padang District, Perak, Malaysia.It is one of the two gateway towns to the renowned hill retreat of Cameron Highlands alongside Simpang Pulai, with the latter situated approximately to its north. ...

, having served from 2018 until his untimely death in office. He is the shortest-serving Ayer Kuning MLA, in office for slightly over two years and three months.

Club career

During most of his football career, Ishsam played with

Perak FA Perak Football Club (Perak FC) was a professional football team based in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Founded in 1921, it was one of the oldest football clubs in the country and last competed in the Malaysia Super League. Formerly overseen by the P ...

, save for one season with

Negeri Sembilan FA Negeri Sembilan Football Club (), commonly referred to as Negeri Sembilan or simply NSFC, is a Malaysian professional football club based in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. The club competes in the top division of Malaysian football, the Malaysia ...

. With Perak, Ishsam won the first ever

Malaysia FA Cup The Malaysia FA Cup () is an annual association football, football competition in Malaysia, established in 1990. It was previously managed by the Football Association of Malaysia, before being transferred to the Football Malaysia LLP, Malaysian ...

in 1990. After retiring from football, Ishsam became a politician, businessman and contractor. Ishsam later returned to the Perak FA as its Vice-President and Team Assistant Manager. Ishsam was also the Under-23-Year-Old Team Manager of Perak FA for the President Cup.

International career

Ishsam played for

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

in 1987.

Death

On 22 February 2025, Ishsam collapsed and became unconscious at 5.20 pm at City Stadium in Georgetown,

Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...

. He was resting after participating in a

Chief Minister of Penang The chief minister of Penang is the head of government in the Malaysian state of Penang. According to convention, the chief minister is the leader of the majority party or largest coalition party of the Penang State Legislative Assembly. The ch ...

's Football Cup four-cornered friendly match against Kedah Darul Aman F.C. for 25 minutes, shaking hands and greeting other players at the sidelines. He was then rushed to the

Penang General Hospital The Penang General Hospital is the public hospital of the city of George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang. Opened in 1854, it is the largest government hospital in Penang as well as the state's oldest. The healthcare centre also serves ...

(HPP) for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead slightly over an hour later at 6.28 pm. His body was then taken away from the HPP Forensic Medicine Department after completing

autopsy An autopsy (also referred to as post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of deat ...

and post-mortem to his residence in Desa Seri Ampang,

Ipoh Ipoh (, ) is the capital city of the Malaysian States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Perak. Located on the Kinta River, it is nearly north of Kuala Lumpur and southeast of George Town, Penang, George Town in neighbouring Penang ...

Perak Perak (; Perak Malay: ''Peghok'') is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kel ...

to be bathed and shrouded before being buried at the Rapat Setia Muslim Cemetery, Ipoh, Perak at 10 am the following day, 23 February 2025. His cause of death was later confirmed to be

acute coronary syndrome Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a syndrome due to decreased blood flow in the coronary arteries such that part of the heart muscle is unable to function properly or dies. The most common symptom is centrally located pressure-like chest pain, ...

(ACS). Following his death, the Ayer Kuning by-election was held on 26 April 2025, to elect the new Ayer Kuning MLA as his successor. Mohamad Yusri Bakir, the Division Secretary of BN and UMNO of Tapah, won the seat and was elected by defeating Abdul Muhaimin Malek of

Perikatan Nasional Perikatan Nasional (PN; ) is a Malaysian Parliamentary group, political coalition consisting of Right-wing politics, right-wing and Far-right politics, far-right political parties. It is the second largest political coalition in Dewan Rakyat w ...

(PN) and Bawani Kaniapan of the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) by a majority of 5,006 votes in the election.

Election results

Honours

* : ** Recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (PPT) (2004)

References

External links

Isham Shahruddin interview at Yob4Ever
1966 births 2025 deaths Malaysian men's footballers Malaysia men's international footballers Perak F.C. players Negeri Sembilan FC players Footballers from Perak Malaysian people of Malay descent Men's association football midfielders Members of the Perak State Legislative Assembly United Malays National Organisation politicians {{Malaysia-footy-midfielder-stub