NATIONAL laureate Zaharah Nawawi died at KPJ Rawang Specialist Hospital, Selangor at 7.55am today, believed to be due to cancer. She was 82.

The tragic news was shared by her nephew, Mohd Fadhil Jaffar, via a post on his Facebook page today.

Fadhil, who described his aunt as approachable and always philosophical, said she was one of the successful ones in the family who had greatly influenced and inspired him.

“Despite her agony and pain, especially in her final days, she was always cheerful and enjoyed the company of relatives, especially the younger generation who came to visit her,” said Fadhil, who last met his aunt two weeks ago.

“May Allah bless her soul and place her among the righteous,” he said, adding that her body was buried at USJ 22, Subang Jaya Muslim Cemetery after zohor prayers today.

Born in Kampung Parit Jawa, Mukim Empat, Batu Pahat, Johor on May 5, 1940, Zaharah honed her writing skills at the age of 12.

Her highest recognition was the Southeast Asian Writers Award, which she received in September 1996 in Bangkok, Thailand for her novel Anugerah.

She was also recipient of the Johor Darul Ta’zim Literary Prize in 1999.

Zaharah served Utusan Melayu as a journalist at Mingguan Malaysia and was an editorial board member of Wanita magazine from 1968-1976.

Her last position at Utusan Melayu was as editor-in- chief of Mastika magazine.

From 1976-1985, she was general editor of Malaysian Language Publishing at Berita Publishing, a subsidiary of The New Straits Times Group.

She also served as managing editor at Pustaka Cipta Sdn Bhd from 1985-1986 and was guest writer at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka from 1997-1998.

Among her novels were Panglima Salleh, Selempang Merah; Jalur Sinar di Celah Daun; Azah Aziz: Kartika di Langit Seni; Anugerah; Sehelai Daun Yang Gugur; Haruman Kencana; Bulan dan Mentari; Di Hujung Penantian; Semangat Bunga; Wangian Bukit Peranginan and Warna dan Wajah. – Bernama, May 31, 2022.