KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — Former Kedah mentri besar Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak died this morning following serious heart complications yesterday.

The Sungai Limau assemblyman’s passing was verified by his successor as Kedah mentri besar, Datuk Muhkriz Mahathir, today.

“Condolences to the family of the late Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak, the former Kedah mentri besar, who passed away at 11.10 this morning,” Mukhriz said on his Twitter account.

Azizan reportedly slipped into critical condition yesterday following an emergency cardiac procedure.

His death will trigger a by-election for his state assembly seat.

According to state news agency Bernama, the 69-year-old died in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah were he had been treated after being moved there from Penang last month.

He will be buried later today, after the Muslim evening prayers.

Azizan became mentri besar of Kedah when it fell to Pakatan Rakyat after Election 2008, until May this year when Barisan Nasional regained the state in the May 5 general election.

The three-term assemblyman was also the PAS state commissioner and a member of the Islamist party’s Central Committee.

Azizan had a history of heart complications as well as diabetes.

In May, he underwent a double amputation to remove both legs due to worsening complications caused by his diabetes.

He also took his oath of office as Sungai Limau assemblyman in the hospital then as he was recovering from the earlier operation at the time.