Toh Puan Norkiah, wife of former Sarawak Yang di-Pertua, passes away aged 71

KUCHING: Toh Puan Norkiah @ Rokiah Bagong, the wife of Sarawak's former Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng, passed away on Wednesday (April 14) at the Sarawak General Hospital here.

She was 71 and leaves behind her husband, five children and one grandchild.

Norkiah passed away at around noon and will be laid to rest at the Samariang Muslim cemetery at 5pm on Wednesday.

Norkiah was active in charitable work, including the welfare of orphans and children's education.

A children's home at Jalan Kuching-Serian here was named after her in 2016.

State Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said Norkiah had shown love, care and concern for the wellbeing of the children in welfare institutions, who would greatly miss her.

"During the Ramadan month, she would bring them out to buy new clothes and shoes for Hari Raya. Similarly, the poor and needy will also miss her," she said.

Fatimah recalled that Norkiah's last phone call to her was about asking the Welfare Department to help find a place to stay for a senior citizen who had no family members.

"I will also miss our discussions on the Women's Institute, which was another area that was close to her heart. We will all miss her," she added.