Late Dr Mahani, an outstanding economist and leader in public policy

The late Datuk Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin, who was involved in drafting policies during the 1997/1998 Asian financial crisis, was an outstanding economist and leader in public policy.

Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam, Director of the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) said they have worked together in many government commitments and described her as always 'free, frank and deep in her analysis'.

Ramon, who has known Dr Mahani for about 40 years, expressed shock at her sudden passing, saying that it was a great loss and she will be badly missed by her friends and admirers.

"She was polite and confident. Always respected everybody's view. She was not political, always professional. She lived a life of a true professional and a true Malaysian in every way," said the economist when contacted by Bernama today.

Another economist, Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the nation mourns the passing of another towering economist who has broken the glass ceiling for women when she was tasked to helm the country's leading think-tank.

"Although we knew she was ill for some time, her sudden passing still comes as a shock as as she was in the prime of her life," said the RAM Holdings Group Chief Economist.

Meanwhile, media practitioners especially those covering economic and corporate news were also saddened by the passing of the late Dr Mahani, who was well-liked and very approachable.

Mikhail Raj Abdullah, Editor, at the Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA) Economic Service, said she was a regular at business forums as well as talk shows and was extensively quoted on a wide range of economic issues.

"She rose to prominence in the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) when the government was formulating policies to help the country recover from the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis.

"But above all, it was her humility and friendly persona which shone through in the more than the 15 years that I known her. We will miss her," he said.

Mahani obtained a Ph.D (development economics) from the University of London in 1992 and was Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya until 2007.

In 1998, she was appointed a member of the Working Group for NEAC, a body established by the government to formulate measures to initiate recovery from the economic and financial crisis.

She was also involved in the formulation of the New Economic Model.

Dr Mahani, the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), died of cancer at 2 pm in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and would be laid to rest at the Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetary after Maghrib prayers.

Dr Mahani is survived by her husband, Hamidon Howell Miller, and son James Imran Miller.