Endon Mahmood
Encyclopedia
Tun
Endon Mahmood Ambak (24 December 1940 – 20 October 2005) was the first wife of the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia
, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
. She died from breast cancer
on 20 October 2005.
She was also known as Kak Endon.
, and Datin Mariam Abdullah, a Japan
ese. Endon had ten other siblings, including her twin sister Noraini as well as other sisters Nonni, Rahmah and Aizah. She was born in Klang
, Selangor
on 24 December 1940.
Endon's father worked as a mining assistant in the Department of Mines, and subsequently transferred to Perak
to help oversee about 60 mines in the district of Kampar. Endon spent much of her childhood days in Kampar
and received her early education at the Anglo-Chinese School, now Methodist National Type Primary School. She later went on to attend St Mary’s secondary school in Kuala Lumpur
.
Endon met Abdullah while she was working at the Federal Establishment Office (now the Public Service Department) in the 1960s and they were married in 1965. Endon later retired from civil service
in 1976.
Together with Abdullah, Endon had two children: son Datuk Kamaluddin Abdullah, a business tycoon (married to Azrene) and a daughter, Nori Abdullah (married to Khairy Jamaluddin
). Both Abdullah and Endon had four grandchildren.
and songket
. For example, she launched Campaigns and exhibitions such as the "Batik Extravaganza" which was held in early December 2003 and the Malaysian Batik Movement, "Creation For The World". She was also a patron of the theatre.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
conferred Endon Mahmood the Honorary Doctorate
in Humanities
in August 2004.
Endon was also conferred the Tun Fatimah Award by the National Council of Women's Organisation on 24 August 2004 for her service to the community.
Endon had been posthumously conferred the Seri Setia Mahkota Malaysia
(SSM) which carries the title 'Tun
' on 6 June 2009 in conjunction with the birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin
in 2003 while her twin sister Noraini who had earlier been diagnosed with the disease died in January 2003. Endon later left for St. John’s Medical Centre in Los Angeles, California
for treatment, and again in June this year for Abraxane chemotherapy
, which has yet to be introduced to Malaysia. Endon later received further chemotherapy treatment in the United States
and returned to Malaysia on October 2, 2005. She was later brought home to Seri Perdana
to be with her family after spending two weeks in Putrajaya Hospital.
On 20 October 2005, Endon died after a long battle with breast cancer. She died at 7.55 a.m. The funeral was conducted at the Prime Minister's residence and the Putra Mosque
(where the funeral prayers are conducted), both in Putrajaya
. Endon was buried at the Muslim cemetery in Taman Selatan
, Precinct 20, Putrajaya
.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Endon Mahmood Ambak (24 December 1940 – 20 October 2005) was the first wife of the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
. She died from breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
on 20 October 2005.
She was also known as Kak Endon.
Early life
Endon was born to Datuk Mahmood Ambak, a MalayMalay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
, and Datin Mariam Abdullah, a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese. Endon had ten other siblings, including her twin sister Noraini as well as other sisters Nonni, Rahmah and Aizah. She was born in Klang
Klang
Klang , formerly known as Kelang, is the royal city and former capital of the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It is located within the Klang District in Klang Valley. It is located about 32 km to the west of Kuala Lumpur and 6 km east of Port Klang...
, Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
on 24 December 1940.
Endon's father worked as a mining assistant in the Department of Mines, and subsequently transferred to Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
to help oversee about 60 mines in the district of Kampar. Endon spent much of her childhood days in Kampar
Kampar, Perak
Kampar Kampar Kampar (Chinese:金宝） is a town in the state of Perak, Malaysia. Founded in 1887, the town lies within the Kinta Valley and located in the newly-created Kampar District, an area rich with tin reserves. It was a tin mining town which boomed during the height of the tin mining industry....
and received her early education at the Anglo-Chinese School, now Methodist National Type Primary School. She later went on to attend St Mary’s secondary school in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
.
Endon met Abdullah while she was working at the Federal Establishment Office (now the Public Service Department) in the 1960s and they were married in 1965. Endon later retired from civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
in 1976.
Together with Abdullah, Endon had two children: son Datuk Kamaluddin Abdullah, a business tycoon (married to Azrene) and a daughter, Nori Abdullah (married to Khairy Jamaluddin
Khairy Jamaluddin
Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar is a Malaysian politician, and the son-in-law of former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Since 2008, Khairy has been a member of the Malaysian Parliament representing the constituency of Rembau...
). Both Abdullah and Endon had four grandchildren.
Social contributions
Endon is noted for her contributions to traditional fabric art such as the batikBatik
Batik is a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. Batik or fabrics with the traditional batik patterns are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and Singapore.Javanese traditional batik, especially from...
and songket
Songket
Songket is a fabric that belongs to the brocade family of textiles of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. It is hand-woven in silk or cotton, and intricately patterned with gold or silver threads. The metallic threads stand out against the background cloth to create a shimmering effect...
. For example, she launched Campaigns and exhibitions such as the "Batik Extravaganza" which was held in early December 2003 and the Malaysian Batik Movement, "Creation For The World". She was also a patron of the theatre.
Awards and recognition
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia is the oldest public engineering and technological university in Malaysia. The university specialises in technical studies, with separate faculties for Education, Pure Sciences, Management, and Human Resources Development. It is the country's major source of graduate...
conferred Endon Mahmood the Honorary Doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
in August 2004.
Endon was also conferred the Tun Fatimah Award by the National Council of Women's Organisation on 24 August 2004 for her service to the community.
Endon had been posthumously conferred the Seri Setia Mahkota Malaysia
Order of the Crown of Malaysia
The Most Esteemed Order of the Crown of Malaysia is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The order was instituted on 15 April 1966. The order has three ranks:...
(SSM) which carries the title 'Tun
Tun
- Science and technology :* TUN/TAP, a computer network device driver* TUN , a Danish product standard for building materials* Tun , a part of the Mayan long count calendar system* A unit of time in the Mayan Long Count calendar...
' on 6 June 2009 in conjunction with the birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin
Fighting breast cancer
Endon underwent a radical mastectomy on 18 April 2002, which was followed by 33 sessions of radiation and a series of physiotherapy sessions at St. John’s. Endon discovered she had breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 2003 while her twin sister Noraini who had earlier been diagnosed with the disease died in January 2003. Endon later left for St. John’s Medical Centre in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
for treatment, and again in June this year for Abraxane chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
, which has yet to be introduced to Malaysia. Endon later received further chemotherapy treatment in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and returned to Malaysia on October 2, 2005. She was later brought home to Seri Perdana
Seri Perdana
Seri Perdana is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Malaysia. It is located in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Construction began in 1997 and was completed in 1999. The building shares similar architecture with Perdana Putra. The first resident of this house was Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad,...
to be with her family after spending two weeks in Putrajaya Hospital.
On 20 October 2005, Endon died after a long battle with breast cancer. She died at 7.55 a.m. The funeral was conducted at the Prime Minister's residence and the Putra Mosque
Putra Mosque
The Putra Mosque, or Masjid Putra in Malay language, is the principal mosque of Putrajaya, Malaysia. Construction of the mosque began in 1997 and was completed two years later. It is located next to Perdana Putra which houses the Malaysian Prime Minister's office and man-made Putrajaya Lake...
(where the funeral prayers are conducted), both in Putrajaya
Putrajaya
Putrajaya is a planned city, located 25km south of Kuala Lumpur, that serves as the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya, due to the overcrowding and congestion in the Kuala Lumpur areas...
. Endon was buried at the Muslim cemetery in Taman Selatan
Taman Selatan
Taman Selatan or Southern Park ' is a cemetery in Putrajaya, Malaysia. It is analogous to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC, USA....
, Precinct 20, Putrajaya
Putrajaya
Putrajaya is a planned city, located 25km south of Kuala Lumpur, that serves as the federal administrative centre of Malaysia. The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya, due to the overcrowding and congestion in the Kuala Lumpur areas...
.