By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 30: Dato Dr Madeline Berma, a member of the Sarawak Economic Action Council (SEAC) and former Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner, has passed away today at the age of 64.
According to a post made on her Facebook by a user named Hanim Salleh of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)—from where she obtained her Bachelor of Economics—she was believed to have passed away at around 11.30am at her residence at Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor.
“Our condolences to her family from all of us at the Faculty of Economics and Management, UKM,” said the post.
Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree at UKM in 1982, Madeline, born on May 5, 1961, later completed her Master of Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, in 1986. Subsequently, she received her PhD from the University of Hull, England, in 1997.
Madeline is highly regarded for her years of academic experience, during which she held various positions at UKM. Her expertise lies in development studies, with a research focus on rural development, indigenous economic development, and women’s empowerment in development.
Madeline has done extensive research, delivered papers, and published on economic development, focusing on rural development, poverty, indigenous communities, and women.
She was awarded three distinctive recognitions, which are Pingat Ahli Bintang Kenyalang (ABK), Sarawak Women in Education special award, and Tokoh Wanita Sarawak.
She was a member of research teams conducting policy-impact studies on poverty in Sarawak, urban poverty in major towns in Sarawak, policies on women in Johor, Dayak education, and socialisation in Sarawak. She had also been involved in consultancy jobs for the federal and State governments.
Madeline was a member of the Malaysian government’s delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (2015-2017) and the Women and Economy Forum (2012) in Russia.
She also worked extensively with government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), particularly on economic empowerment programmes.
The government of Malaysia has appointed Madeline to seven national-level consultative committees: the National Unity and Consultative Committee (NUCC); Women’s Advisory and Consultative Council; Consultative Committee on Political Funding; Committee to Promote Inter-Religious Harmony and Understanding; Public Complaints Bureau; National Heritage Council; and Committee on Education Policy Review.
In addition, Madeline was also the first Iban to assume the post of Suhakam commissioner in 2019.
In Jan 24, 2025, she was appointed a member of the SEAC by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The SEAC, formed in May 2020, was to deliberate, discuss, decide, and endorse the planning and recommendations under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030. — DayakDaily
