The chairperson of the Committee to Promote Inter-Religious Understanding and Harmony, Illani Isahak, died today after struggling against breast cancer for the past five years.

Illani, 58, breathed her last at about 6am at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

Her remains had been brought back to her residence in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

Born in Kelantan, Illani is survived by husband Adam Camille Rustum Mohd Ibrahim and three sons and a daughter.

She was active in Umno at the state and federal level and had held the post of chairperson of the international bureau of Wanita Umno in 2004.

She was also elected as the member of parliament for Kota Bharu in 1990.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Hindu Council president R Nadarajah described the sudden demise of Illani as a great loss to the people who love peace and harmony in a multi-racial and multi-religious country.

Offering condolences to Illani's family over her demise, Nadarajah in a statement said: "We in return shall fulfill her wish to make the interfaith panel a success."

- Bernama