KUALA LUMPUR: Renowned education figure Tan Sri Dr Asiah Abu Samah (pic) died at a private hospital here at the age of 89.
Asiah, the first woman to serve as the country’s Education director-general, died at 5am yesterday.
According to a circulated notice, funeral prayers will be held after Zohor prayers at Masjid At-Taqwa in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, followed by burial at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery here, Bernama reported.
Born on March 1, 1937, in Parit, Perak, Asiah made significant contributions to the development and advancement of Malaysia’s education system.
She studied at Universiti Malaya in Singapore, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Diploma in Education before beginning her teaching career at Penang Free School in 1961.
She later served as a language lecturer at an institute in Lembah Pantai before being appointed principal of Tunku Kurshiah College (TKC) in Seremban, a position she held from December 1966 to September 1970.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek described Asiah’s passing as a major loss to the nation’s education sector, given her contributions to the development of the national education system.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tan Sri Asiah Abu Samah. As the first woman to hold this position, she paved the way for women to take on leadership roles in the country’s education sector.
“Her contributions will always be remembered by those of us who continue the responsibility of educating Malaysia’s children,” she said in a Facebook post.
