KUCHING, April 14: The late Datuk Patinggi Hajah Norkiah will be deeply missed by the Sarawakian community especially children at welfare institutions who have benefitted from her kindness, compassion, generosity and volunteerism.
Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the late Norkiah will be sorely missed by children from institutions like the Toh Puan Norkiah Home, Datuk Ajibah Abol Children’s Home, Taman Sri Puteri Home and others for her love, care and concern.
“During Ramadan month, before the Hari Raya (Aidilfitri) celebration, she (Norkiah) will normally bring them out to buy new clothes and shoes.
“Similarly, the poor and the needy in society will also miss her,” she said in paying tribute following reports of Norkiah’s passing today.
Recalling her last phone call with Norkiah before she fell sick, Fatimah shared that she had urged the Welfare Department to help poor senior citizens with no family members find a place to stay.
“I will miss our discussions on welfare matters as it was an area close to her heart. We will miss her. Al-fatihah, may Allah grant her Jannah,” she added.
Norkiah, wife of former Head of State Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng, passed away at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) today, aged 72.
She breathed her last at about 12.02pm due to complications after suffering from a stroke and brain hemorrhage on April 3.
The late Norkiah was a government retiree and married Salahuddin, 99, in 1996 and has adopted four children.
Her remains were scheduled to be brought home to Kampung Temenggong in Matang and buried at Semariang Islamic Cemetery at 5pm today. — DayakDaily
