In Memory of Datin Seri Endon

In Memory of Datin Sri Endon, wife of our beloved Prime Minister



Contributed by Dato' Zuraidah Atan
Friday, 28 October 2005 11:15pm
Dear friends,

For the last one-week, we had mourned with the nation in extending condolences to our beloved Prime Minister for the loss of his wife, Datin Seri Endon, whom we fondly referred as Kak Endon, who died battling cancer last Thursday, 20th October 2005.

We had all prayed hoping against hope that Allahyarhamah would survive but sadly, she succumbed to the disease. We pray to ALLAH for her blessed soul.

In her memory, we commemorate her courage. Her courage during her struggle is certainly not forgotten. She displayed understated elegance and determination throughout her ordeal.Allahyarhamah had fought with spirit and bravery against this dreadful disease and she was a source of inspiration to other cancer sufferers. She may have lost the battle to fight cancer but she has won the hearts of all.

Her fighting spirit ought to be emulated by all. When faced with personal adversity, she trudged on without wanting to be a burden to family and nation. Allahyarhamah sacrificed much of her personal time with her husband, time which were precious considering her predicament, with the man she truly loves, to the Nation whilst she endured treatment after treatment away from him. We know how painful in turn, it has been for our Prime Minister, who must have felt helpless with matters of State before him, yet praying for his wife’s recovery at all times.

Allahyarhamah was the epitome of much-admired fortitude in raising the level of family unity, of love, and most of all her fighting spirit.

My friends,

Cancer as we know, is a disease that no person can avoid with any certainty, whether as an individual with cancer, as a family member or caregiver or as a friend of a person with cancer. Cancer will affect everyone sometime in our lives. All of us will have our own personal stories to relate. After all, over 40,000 Malaysians develop cancer every year.

Whilst there are commendable efforts by the Government and NGOs such as National Cancer Society of Malaysia/Persatuan Kebangsaan Kanser Malaysia (NCSM), Breast Cancer Welfare, CancerLink, Makna and others who help provide continuous cancer awareness programmes, more support are certainly welcome to help educate the public on early cancer detection and cancer prevention. Cancer does not happen overnight. It takes years of exposure to risk factors before cancer develops.

We are well aware for the need to educate our communities and our young on cancer prevention. The thrust of campaigns is therefore on preventive measures since early detection saves lives.

Allahyarhamah herself has helped the Nation immeasurably through her advocacy for cancer awareness and cancer issues facing Malaysians, especially women. She welcomed projects that encouraged early detection of cancer and supported NCSM’s Mobile Cancer Screening for Rural Areas that is being embarked so that cancer screening may be made more readily accessible for the rakyat.

My friends,

It was heartening to note that when the Malaysian Bar together with Parliament BN BackBenchers Club, helped raise money for NCSM’s Mobile Cancer Screening Project & LawCare at its Inaugural Charity Golf last month, Allahyarhamah sent encouraging messages through friends.

We were made to understand how delighted she was that Lawyers and Members of Parliament took an active interest and are supportive towards cancer awareness. We are glad that Allahyarhamah knew that at least we care.

My friends,

When you lose your loved ones, it is never easy. And losing a spouse is akin to losing a limb. Your heart breaks into loneliness and your soul weeps silently. It takes time to heal. It takes faith to carry on life where your love has left much emptiness and yearning. The path seems blurred and hollow leaving sweet memories to cherish.

To our Prime Minister, we join the nation in expressing our deepest and heartfelt condolence to him and his family and pray that ALLAH shall give them strength and faith to overcome their grief. The paths that may seem blurred and hollow are littered with support and reassurances that shall lessen the pain.

And it is from Allahyarhamah Datin Seri Endon, that we must learn to embrace life with all its joys, uncertainties and struggles and to live with hope and strength. Her spirit is forever with us.

When there is darkness

There shall be light

When there is sadness

Pray let it be all right

God Bless.

Sincere regards,

Dato’ Zuraidah Atan

Honorary Adviser & volunteer

National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM)

Pertandingan Golf Amal

KELAB AHLI PARLIMEN BARISAN NASIONAL DAN MALAYSIAN BAR: PERTANDINGAN GOLF AMAL ‘CELEBRATELIFE’ BAGI TUJUAN MEMBANTU PERSATUAN KEBANGSAAN KANSER MALAYSIA DAN LAWCARE

Kelab Ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional (BNBBC) dengan usahasama Malaysian Bar menganjurkan satu pertandingan golf amal di The Mines Resort and Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur pada 18hb September 2005.

Pertandingan Golf Amal CelebrateLife ini bertujuan bertujuan mengumpul dana bagi Persatuan Kebangsaan Kanser Malaysia (PKKM) dan LawCare.

Persatuan Kebangsaan Kanser Malaysia merupakan satu pertubuhan amal yang bergantung sepenuhnya kepada sumbangan serta sokongan masyarakat bagi membiayai perkhidmatan perubatan, pemeriksaan kesihatan, diagnosis serta kempen-kempen kesedaran di seluruh negara. LawCare pula ditubuhkan di bawah pengawasan Malaysian Bar untuk membantu ahli-ahli yang kurang berkemampuan yang mengalami masalah kesihatan serius termasuk kanser.

Majlis makan malam amal akan diadakan di Hall Of Fame, The Mines Resort pada jam 7.30 malam, hari yang sama. Wang sumbangan berjumlah RM100,000.00 (RM Satu Ratus Ribu Sahaja) akan diberikan kepada Persatuan Kebangsaan Kanser Malaysia dan LawCare pada majlis makan malam ini.

Antara penyumbang utama majlis ini adalah Resorts World Berhad, LBS Bina Group Berhad, Pantai Holdings Berhad, Bumiputra Commerce Bank Berhad dan HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad.

Gambar Ihsan NST: Puan Kay Prakash - Pengurus Komunikasi Resorts World Berhad menyerahkan cek kepada Dato’ Zuraidah Atan, Penasihat Kehormat Persatuan Kebangsaan Kanser Malaysia diperhatikan oleh YB Dato’ Shahrir Samad, Pengerusi Kelab Ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional.

HSBC Appoints Zuraidah as Non-Executive Director

The University of Buckingham

The Independent, Spring 2005
Alumni at work ~

HSBC Appoints Zuraidah as Non-Executive Director

HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd announced the appointment of Datuk
Zuraidah Atan (LLB’ 84) as a nonexecutive director effective 18 October 2004.

The first woman to be appointed to the board of HSBC Malaysia, Zuraidah
was previously president and chief executive of Affin Merchant Bank Bhd for four years until September 2003. She is a member of the Association of Bumiputra Business & Professional Women, Malaysia. She is also active
in community service, and serves as an adviser to the National Cancer Society.

Zuraidah said she would be honoured if we publish her news. She also wrote:
Since I left Affin Merchant Bank as its first woman President/CEO (in fact first woman CEO of a merchant/ investment bank in Malaysia!), end September 2003, I read in Chambers (pupillage) and was called to the Malaysian Bar 5 August 2004. After 20 years of being in the corporate, financial and banking sector, it is certainly exciting to join the legal fraternity.

Over the years, my work has taken me to exotic locations like Papua New Guinea, India, Laos, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and many more. I've been to Australia so many times and of course to New Zealand too! Ergo, given my exposure in the corporate world and particularly cross-borders, I decided to start my own boutique legal practice called ‘Chambers of Zuraidah Atan’ and am enjoying the challenges thus far (my website www.zuraidah.com).

Apart from the advisory assignments that I undertake, I am a Legal Aid Centre/Dock Brief Volunteer and an Arbitrator registered with the Regional Centre of Arbitration in Kuala Lumpur (RCAKL).

I am also a Council Member of our National Tourism Council of Malaysia and am involved, particularly in areas of 'Tourism Financing'. I travelled to India with our delegation in March this year to meet our counterpart there.

As Adviser, National Cancer Society of Malaysia, I am very much involved in its fundraising activities and cancer awareness programmes. Last month
(September), we ran the highly successful 'Yellow Balloon Race' launched by our Queen, followed by Cancer Awareness week supported by our Prime Minister's wife.

I am also a member of various women's professional groups and participate/ spearhead activities to assist women to enhance skills and core competencies to gain competitive advantage and increase the 'knowledge
workforce'.

By the way, I have just finished my term as the University Alumni President of Malaysia! Oh, and I am also a golfer (high handicapper!) and my home clubs are Royal Selangor Golf Club (RSGC) and the Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS), both illustrious clubs with strong traditions in Malaysia.

I was a part-time columnist in our local weekly Sunday paper for its magazine till midyear last year. I had my poems printed in our national
papers from time to time. And I frequently deliver talks/seminars on areas such as 'Capital Markets and Corporate Finance'.

So, that sums up what I've been doing. Otherwise, I spend time at home with my two wonderfully spoilt fat cats, Alya and Blackie.