The first chairman of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Tan Sri G.K. Rama Iyer died Tuesday (March 17) morning. He was 88.

His daughter, Lavanya Rama Iyer, when confirming this, said the late Rama Iyer will be cremated at the Jalan Kuari Municipal Crematorium (Cheras) at noon Thursday (March 19).

Rama Iyer (photo) was the MAS chairman from 1970 to 1973 after Malaysia Singapore (MSA) Airlines became two separate airlines.

He was then succeeded by Raja Tun Mohar Raja Badiozaman.

Rama Iyer, who holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University did much for the civil service under leading figures of the day including the late Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman.

His last post in government before his retirement was secretary-general of the Primary Industries Ministry.

Born in Penang, the former Penang Free School student was the first chairman of Malaysian Airline System Bhd and founder-director of Malaysian International Shipping Corporation Bhd (MISC), besides serving as a director of CIMB Bank Bhd and its antecedents from 1987 to 2012.

He leaves behind four children, two grandchildren and wife Puan Sri Vijaya Rama Iyer. - Bernama