Late Dr Abdul Hamid Othman named 'Maal Hijrah' personality

The late Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Othman, who was once a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, was today named the posthumous recipient of the national-level 'Maal Hijrah' award.

His widow, Puan Seri Jamilah Mohd Said, received the RM100,000, a plaque, a medal and a certificate from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here.

Abdul Hamid was born on July 21, 1939, in Kampung Kemelong, Sik, Kedah. In 1961, he was offered a government scholarship to pursue a bachelor's degree in Islamic law at the Al-Azhar University.

He was appointed the first principal of the Islamic Teachers Training College in 1977.

He held the position of director of Islamic Education at the Education Ministry from 1981 to 1984 and headed the Islamic Centre at the Prime Minister's Department as the director-general of the Islamic Affairs Division.

Abdul Hamid was active in politics and won a seat in the general election in 1990. He was also an Umno supreme council member.

He was advisor to the prime minister from 2001 to 2009. He was also religious affairs advisor at Kumpulan Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Abdul Hamid died of a stroke on Dec 23, 2011, at the age of 72.

Jamilah was clearly overwhelmed and grateful at the appreciation given to her late husband.