Ibu Mithali Award Recipient An Exemplary Mother
KUCHING, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Ibu Mithali award recipient Rakayah@Ayot Rajak, 82, who died of old age on Friday, was described by one of her 16 children as an exemplary mother for raising all her children to be successful in their chosen vocations despite being uneducated.
Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Deputy Director of Health (Dental) Dr Ahmad Abang said today his late mother would be an inspiration to many for her tireless sacrifices to put him and his siblings through university as well as for her active involvement in social work, including at the Women's Institute.
"She was a good mother who managed to put all of us through university by taking up sewing and doing other chores to supplement the family income. She was also very kind and generous, and will not hesitate to invite anyone who had come to our house for a meal although we were not from a well-to-do family," he told Bernama here today.
Dr Ahmad, 54, the sixth child, said Rakayah, who was survived by eight sons and eight daughters as well as 58 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, received the Ibu Mithali award in February 1991 from the then Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Bainun Mohd Ali in appreciation of her contribution.
Six of Rakayah's children are either medical doctors or dentists, including Dr Ahmad and her eldest son, Dr Abas Abang, who is one of Kuching's pioneer and most prominent Malay general practitioners.
One of her daughters, Professor Dr Fatimah Abang, is currently the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
However, this year's Hari Raya celebration will be a sad one for Dr Ahmad and his extended family as their "pillar of strength" will not be around to partake in the joy and thanksgiving of the festivity.
Rokayah was laid to rest at the Semariang Muslim cemetery here on Saturday beside the grave of her husband.
-- BERNAMA
Taken from http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=361849
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