Laid to rest at Heroes’ Mausoleum

KUALA LUMPUR: The late Tun Rahah Mohamed Noah, widow of second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, has been laid to rest at the Heroes’ Mausoleum at the National Mosque here.

She was buried at about 3.30pm yesterday, beside her sister Tun Suhailah, widow of third prime minister Tun Hussein Onn.

Earlier in the day, the public was allowed to pay their final respects at the Ar-Rahah Mosque in Kampung Kerinchi from 9am to 1pm, with notable attendees including Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Perak Ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

Sultan Sharafuddin, accompanied by Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, arrived at 9.15am, while Sultan Nazrin arrived with Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim at 9.50am.

Other dignitaries present at Ar-Rahah Mosque were former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali.

Also seen there were Sarawak Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud who arrived around noon with his wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, who led a delegation there, said on Facebook: “May all go well and the late Tun Rahah’s soul be blessed.”

Dr Wee went with MCA national youth chief Wong Tze Shiang and Pahang MCA state liaison secretary Quek Tai Seong.

In accordance with the SOP under the conditional movement control order, measures such as physical distancing and wearing face masks were observed, along with limited time slots for each attendee so that no one could stay inside the mosque for too long.

A total of eight tents were set up in the parking lot of the mosque as a waiting area for relatives and the public before entering the mosque, after they registered using the MySejahtera app or writing down their particulars in the registration book.

Funeral prayers were held at the mosque after the zohor prayers before the remains were taken to the National Mosque for the state funeral.

At the National Mosque, prayers as well as tahlil and talkin recitations were led by the National Mosque Grand Imam, Ehsan Mohd Husni.

Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and her daughter Tengku Puteri Afzan Aminah Hafizatullah, together with Rahah’s family members, including her son Datuk Seri Najib Razak, witnessed her final journey.

Meanwhile, tributes for Rahah continued to flow in, with a statement on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page praising Rahah as “the best wife a prime minister and politician could ask for, and should be emulated”.

“His Royal Highness recalled the personality of the late Tun Rahah, who was a friendly person and often smiled, and she was the backbone and motivator for the political career of the late Tun Abdul Razak.

“The Sultan also admired Tun Rahah’s perseverance in bringing up her five sons after losing her beloved husband in 1976, ” read the post, which added that Sultan Sharafuddin also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for agreeing to grant a state funeral for Rahah, which is considered the highest recognition for her service and dedication.

Jen (Rtd) Tan Sri Hashim Mohd Ali, representing retired armed forces generals, sent in a statement on behalf of the Chiefs’ Circle, to express his condolences to Najib’s family.

In Sibu, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said Rahah was very close to the state’s previous leaders.

“She often visited Sarawak and was also very close to my mother. On behalf of the people of Sarawak, I would like to extend our condolences to the family of Tun (Rahah). May her soul be placed among the righteous, ” he told reporters after an event in Dalat.

Rahah, 87, passed away on Friday evening at the Prince Court Medical Centre here where she was admitted for treatment.

Born on June 11,1933, in Muar, Johor, she was the youngest daughter of Tan Sri Mohamed Noah Omar, the first Dewan Rakyat speaker.

Rahah married Razak on Sept 4,1952, and they were blessed with five sons – Najib, Datuk Mohamed Nazir, Datuk Ahmad Johari, Datuk Mohamed Nizam and Datuk Mohamed Nazim.

She was awarded the Seri Setia Mahkota Award by the Federal Government in 1976, which carries the title “Tun”.

Meanwhile, Najib expressed his family’s gratitude to the government for the state funeral and described the matter as something special to his family.

“This will be a sweet memory to Tun Razak’s family, ” he told reporters at Masjid Negara, adding that a tahlil ceremony would be held for seven days at the Ar-Rahah Mosque starting yesterday evening. — Bernama