Oldest woman in Asia passes away at age 115

MACHANG: Esah Jusoh, believed to be the oldest woman in Asia, passed away before her 116th birthday at Kampung Jakar, Temangan here on Friday. 

Esah passed away at about 10.40pm due to natural causes. She was confined to bed for seven days after falling ill two weeks ago, according to her daughter Tuan Bidah Tuan Muda, 66. 

Tuan Bidah said her late mother rarely fell sick and had no chronic diseases, adding that she only had a weak knee. Because of this, her mother had to drag her feet every time she walked. 

"We plan to celebrate her 116th birthday on Oct 29, but it will never be.

"We had planned to gather all her relatives of about 500 from five generations that included her grandchildren and we wanted it to be a big celebration, but Allah loved her more," Tuan Bidah said on Sunday.

"She rarely sat down and would move around the house until two weeks ago before her death," Tuan Bidah added. 

Esah was buried at Pengkalan Chuit here at 2pm on Sunday.