Pak Lah’s mother dies at 78

KEPALA BATAS: Datuk Kailan Hassan, the mother of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, passed away yesterday at the age of 78.

She died at their family home at Jalan Perak here at 5.15pm after complaining of chest pains.

She leaves behind four children namely Abdullah, Datuk Ibrahim, Aminah and Mohd Tahir, 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Mohd Tahir, who was present when she drew her last breath, said Kailan had been sick since Saturday.

“This afternoon, she had lunch with my cousins who came to visit her from Bayan Lepas following which she went to take her rest.

“However, slightly before 5pm, my mother complained of chest pains and my wife and I applied ointment to ease her pain.

“However, she passed away about 15 minutes later and I immediately informed Abdullah about it,” he said.

Mohd Tahir said Kailan, who was close to Abdullah, had the opportunity to meet her eldest son who returned home from Kuala Lumpur to perform the Aidiladha prayers on Sunday.

It had been Abdullah’s “ritual” to kiss his mother’s hands to get her blessings every time he was in Penang.

Mohd Tahir said Kailan and Abdullah chatted briefly on Sunday morning before the prayers, and the Prime Minister came back later in the afternoon after concluding his visits to his constituency.

“My mother and Abdullah spent about 20 minutes before he left for the Butterworth Royal Malaysian Air Force airport.

“Abdullah told her about his work including his recent visits to the Asean countries. “My mother noticed that Abdullah was coughing very badly and advised him not to take ice water.

“My mother then told Abdullah to take care of himself as he has to look after the nation,” he said.

Abdullah arrived at 8.40pm and looked sad but calm. He went straight to where his mother’s body laid and spent about 20 minutes reciting prayers for her.

He was accompanied by his children Kamaluddin and Nori and grandchildren. Streams of well-wishers came to pay their last respects including Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Zain, state MCA chairman Wong Kam Hoong, Lunas assemblyman Saifuddin Nasution and PAS secretary-general Nasaruddin Mat Isa.

Kailan will be buried next to her husband Datuk Ahmad Badawi Abdullah Fahim’s grave at the Jamiul Badawi Mosque Muslim cemetery at 3pm today.

Abdullah's press secretary Azhar Othman said Abdullah's wife Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood would not be able to attend the funeral because she was undergoing treatment overseas.

The Star 3/2/2004