KUALA LUMPUR: TUN Suhailah Mohamad Noah, the wife of the country’s third prime minister Tun Hussein Onn, was laid to rest at the Heroes Mausoleum of the National Mosque yesterday.
Suhailah, 82, who is the mother of Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, died at 12.30am yesterday at the Damansara Specialist Hospital, where she had been admitted for lung and kidney complications for the past two weeks.
Her remains were brought to the family home in Bukit Tunku for the public to pay their last respects before the burial at the Heroes Mausoleum.
Her casket was carried by uniformed pallbearers into the mosque where the solat jenazah (prayer for the dead) was performed after zohor prayers.
Among members of royalty who paid their last respects were Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah and Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, also paid his respects to Suhailah, who is his aunt. Present was Najib’s mother, Tun Rahah Mohamad Noah, Suhailah’s younger sister.
Suhailah and Rahah are the daughters of Tan Sri Mohamad Noah Omar, who was the first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.
Hishammuddin, who was in a white Baju Melayu, put on a brave front as people from all walks of life came to convey their condolences to him and his family.
Suhailah was instrumental in the setting up of Bakti, the Welfare Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers in 1977. She led the organisation for four years until 1981.
Suhailah’s grandson, Sembrong Umno Youth chief, Onn Hafiz Ghazi, said his grandmother passed away peacefully surrounded by close family members.
“My family and I are grateful she has been laid to rest near her beloved father, Tan Sri Mohamad Noah, and husband, Tun Hussein Onn.”
Speaking on behalf of the family, Onn Hafiz thanked everyone who prayed for his grandmother and helped with the funeral preparations.
Other dignitaries who paid their respects included Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkifli Mohd Zin, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Shabery Cheek, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and new Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali.
