Al Fatiha... Tun Fatimah Hashim

Malaysia's first woman minister, Tun Dr Fatimah Hashim, 85, died of old age at her residence at 11.35 Saturday night.

Her son, Abdul Karim Abdul Kadir, said she would be buried after the Zohor prayers today (Sunday) at the National Mosque beside the grave of her husband, Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Yusoff, a former Attorney-General and former Minister of Law and National Development.

"Her remains will be buried at the National Mosque after receiving permission from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak," Abdul Karim told Bernama.

Fatimah, who is survived by six children, was born in Kampung Parit Kurma, Muar, Johor on Dec 25, 1924 and received her early education at the Sekolah Melayu Perempuan Mersing, Johor before becoming a teacher.

She was appointed Welfare Minister on May 20, 1969 until March 1, 1973.

Fatimah joined politics in 1947 and had held the post of Head of the Umno Kaum Ibu movement, which is now known as Wanita Umno, from September 1956 until June 1972.

On Aug 19 last year, she was chosen as one of the four outstanding Malaysians to receive the Merdeka Award for the Education and Community category.