Malaysia in mourning after PM’s wife dies

By Jalil Hamid

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Reuters) – Malaysia went into mourning
on Thursday for Endon Mahmood, the well-liked wife of the prime
minister, who died after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.

Endon, as she was affectionately known by most Malaysians,
was a huge source of inspiration for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and
many political analysts say she encouraged the mild-mannered
politician to pursue the leadership.

Parliament was adjourned until Monday as a mark of respect,
and the government canceled all Thursday’s official functions,
according to local media reports. Local TV stations broadcast
prayers.

An official spokeswoman said Endon died at 7:15 a.m. (2315
GMT) on Thursday at the sprawling hilltop official residence of
Prime Minister Abdullah, in the leafy new administrative
capital of Putrajaya, an official spokeswoman said. She was 64.

The whole family was gathered at Endon’s bedside when the
end came, her son Kamaluddin Abdullah told reporters, but she
had spoken no parting words.

“She was in semi-conscious state already,” said a
tired-looking Kamaluddin, wearing a white linen shirt as he
stood at the main door of the residence to receive the
condolences of visitors, among them women dressed in the black
headscarves of mourning.

“She died peacefully,” said her son-in-law Khairy
Jamaluddin. Her mother was also beside her at the time.

SPECIAL BLESSING

The death came in the holy month of Ramadan, during which
devout Muslims believe the departed receive special blessings.

The soft-spoken Endon was diagnosed with cancer soon after
her twin sister Noraini discovered she had the disease in 2002.

“I am blessed to have cancer at this time of my life
because the greatest gift has been the prayers from everyone,
including those from other religions,” Endon said in an
interview last year.

“There have been many times when people have come up to me
and said that they are praying for me. I thank them all.”

Officials said the public would be allowed to file past the
body and pay their last respects from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the
prime minister’s turquoise-domed residence.

Then the body will be taken to a nearby mosque for prayers
before being buried in a public cemetery in Putrajaya.

Within hours of hearing the news, dozens of people stood in
light rain outside the prime minister’s residence. Inside,
Endon’s body was being washed and prepared to lie in state,
wrapped in the customary white linen, officials said.

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was among the first
visitors to arrive. He went in and started reading verses from
the holy Koran, officials said.

Abdullah, 65, took power late in 2003, as the chosen
successor of Mahathir.

Since 2002, Endon had made regular trips to the United
States for treatment. She returned home on October 1 from weeks
of treatment in Los Angeles, but immediately went into hospital
to guard against secondary infections, on doctors’ advice.

(Additional reporting by Mark Bendeich, Clarence Fernandez
and Barani Krishnan)