‘Wanita Umno lost a patriot in Napsiah’
KUALA LUMPUR: Wanita Umno lost a patriot and a mother figure following the death of its permanent chairman, Tan Sri Napsiah Omar, who spent her life fighting for the people and the party.
Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said Napsiah’s death was felt by every party member, who all missed her dearly.
Describing Napsiah as a noble and selfless person, Shahrizat said the former minister was an inspiration for Wanita Umno.
“I remember when I first joined Umno, it was Tan Sri Napsiah who gave me the strength to continue. She understood the meaning of perjuangan (struggle).
“I hope Umno veterans will emulate Tan Sri Napsiah’s spirit in fighting for the people.
“There was never a hint of jealousy, selfishness or greed in her.
“She was Wanita Umno’s inspiration, and her death is a great loss to us,” Shahrizat said at a tahlil (special prayers) and yasin recital for Napsiah at Menara Dato Onn here yesterday.
Present was Napsiah’s youngest daughter, Noor Fizah Abdul Aziz, 39.
Napsiah died on Monday at her son’s house in Ampang Jaya, leaving behind four children — Shahira, Mohamad Rizal, Shahrina and Noor Fizah. Her husband, Abdul Aziz Yahya, died in 1985.
Shahrizat said all Wanita Umno divisions would hold special prayers for Napsiah.
Noor Fizah said: “She was a genuine lady who respected everyone, regardless of his position. Politics is in her blood. If I could say something to her now… she knows I love her.”
Napsiah was born on April 21, 1943, in Negri Sembilan. She contested and won the Kuala Pilah parliamentary seat in 1982, which she held for five terms until 2004.
Last year, she was awarded Umno’s Melayu Terbilang (Outstanding Malay) Award.
She was appointed deputy housing and local government minister in 1982, public enterprises minister in 1987 and national unity and social development minister in 1990.
She was also a Negri Sembilan executive councillor from 1995 to 1999.
She attended Sekolah Melayu Kuala Pilah, Sekolah Tunku Kurshiah, Sekolah Tunku Mohammad and Telopea Park School in Canberra, Australia.
She obtained a bachelor’s degree in zoology and botany from the Australian National University in Canberra, and a master’s degree in nutrition and education from Cornell University in New York.