KUALA LUMPUR:Former Minister of National Unity and Community Development Tan Sri Zaleha Ismail,  who died yesterday, was buried at the Taman Ibu Kota Muslim Cemetery here at about 11.15 am today.

Her remains were earlier brought to the Salahuddin Al-Ayubbi Mosque at Taman Melati for the funeral rites and prayer, which was attended by family members  and friends, and conducted under the new normal by observing the prescribed standard operating procedures.

Also present was former Women, Family and Community Development Minister Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who described Zaleha as her source of inspiration when she first joined politics and also for Wanita UMNO members.

“She was not only a women’s leader,  but also a country’s leader. Her good nature, how she solved problems, made the political world beautiful.

“Kak Leha (Zaleha) is a legend and an icon for Wanita UMNO members,” said Shahrizat, who is a former Wanita UMNO leader.

Zaleha died at the age of 84 due to several health complications at about 8.15 pm yesterday at a hospital here.

She was Deputy Transport Minister before appointed as National Unity and Community Development Minister from 1995 to 1999.

She was Wanita UMNO deputy chief from 1976 to 1980 and Kuala Lumpur Wanita UMNO head from 1977 until 1978.

Zaleha was married to Abd Rahman Ali (now deceased) and the couple has three sons Datuk Dr Zurin Adnan, Zurin Azlan and Zurin Azrai. 

-- BERNAMA