MALAYSIAN Automotive Association (MAA) president Aishah Ahmad Badjunaid died in Jeddah yesterday morning. She was 71. 

In a statement, MAA said she would be buried in Saudi Arabia today. 

MAA described her passing as a great loss, saying Aishah was highly respected within the local automotive industry as well as by her foreign counterparts in ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the Malaysian government. 

“Aishah was a legend and one of the leading automotive personalities who devoted the best years of her life contributing to the growth and development of the Malaysian automotive industry with her vision, dedication, and passion. 

“On behalf of the council, members, and staff of the MAA, we extend our most heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to Aishah Ahmad’s family,” it said.   

Aishah had helmed MAA since 1991 (when MAA was known as the Malaysian Motor Traders Association) and spearheaded the growth of MAA as the leading automotive industry association in Malaysia. 

Aishah had also been the chairman of the Automotive Federation Malaysia since 1998. 

MAA said Aishah also served as president of the ASEAN Automotive Federation (AAF) for three terms, 2000-2002, 2008-2010, and 2015-2017. 

“During Aishah’s presidency in 2015-2017, the AAF successfully managed to recruit the Automotive Association of Myanmar and Cambodia Automotive Industry Federation as members, thus bringing the complete 10 ASEAN member states industry associations into AAF,” it said. 

Aishah was one of the longest-serving individuals in the automotive industry, with over 40 years of experience.  

She started her career in the mid-1970s with Inchcape Group of Companies in Malaysia. 

She later joined Ford Malaysia and a succession of other companies, retiring in 2021 when she was with Sime Darby Motors. – Bernama, February 3, 2023.