KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin have conveyed their condolences to the former Minister of National Unity and Community Development Tan Sri Zaleha Ismail who died last night.
According to a statement from the Selangor Royal Office, Sultan Sharafuddin described the late Zaleha as one of the country’s prominent female figures, who had held the ministerial position from 1995 to 1999.
The Selangor Ruler said the late Zaleha’s friendly and warm nature had also led to her appointment as an honorary patron of the Selangor Single Mothers Association.
“Born in Kuala Langat on May 18, 1936, the late Zaleha was a local political leader who had contributed a lot for the people and had once held the Permatang state constituency seat in 1978 and became the Gombak MP in 1987,” the statement read.
The previous ruler the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah had conferred Zaleha the Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor (D.P.M.S.) award in 1980 and the Seri Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (S.S.S.A.) award in 2001, which carries the title “Datin Paduka Seri”, in appreciation of her contributions.
Zaleha died due to several health complications at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur at about 8.15pm last night. She was 84.
Zaleha who was married to the late Abd Rahman Ali is survived by three sons Datuk Dr Zurin Adnan, Zurin Azlan and Zurin Azrai.
