THE country’s first Malay female professor Dr Fatimah Hamid Don died at 89 early this morning.

Her daughter Dr Fawziah Ishak said she died at 2.35am while recovering from a year-long battle with stroke at KPJ Hospital Tawakal in Kuala Lumpur.

“We (family) were surprised because on the first day of Aidilfitri my mother said she was able to walk six steps and was very positive about recovering. She was my role model,” Fawziah said when contacted by Bernama.

She said the funeral prayers will be held at the Tun Abdul Aziz Mosque, Section 14, Petaling Jaya and her mother will be buried at the at Taman Medan Muslim Cemetery, Petaling Jaya after Zohor prayers.

Fatimah leaves behind two daughters and two granddaughters.

Her granddaughter Dr Dima Marlina Mohd Rafi said on Facebook the late Fatimah was not only a loving mother and grandmother but also a great figure in national education and women’s empowerment.

Fatimah was the first Malay woman to obtain a doctorate in philosophy in the field of education at the University of California, United States and was also awarded the Fatimah Medal in conjunction with Women’s Day in 1988.

She had served in the education field since 1956 and held various high positions including as education officer, teacher and college lecturer.

Fatimah retired as a professor in 1990 after serving for 26 years at Universiti Malaya. – Bernama, April 26, 2023.