Veteran politician and former New Straits Times (NST) editor-in-chief Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad passed away at about 1.40pm on Sunday.

Abdullah, or better known as Dollah Kok Lanas passed away at the Pantai Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur after losing battle to cancer. He was 83.

In 1962, he served former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein for 14 years, before being appointed as deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department in 1974 after winning the Machang parliamentary seat.

Abdullah then went on to win the Kok Lanas parliamentary seat in Kelantang during the 1986 general elections.

His last position was the NST and Berita Harian group editor-in-chief (2002-2003).

Abdullah leaves behind a widow, Puan Sri Fauzah Mohamad Darus and three children.