Rahah Noah
Encyclopedia
Tun Rahah binti Tan Sri Mohammad Noah (born 1933) is the widow of former Malaysian Prime Minister
Tun Abdul Razak and the mother of current Prime Minister Najib Razak. She is the daughter of Mohamad Noah Omar, former Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
.
, Johor
. She is the youngest of Mohamad Noah Omar's ten children. While attending secondary school in Johor Bahru
, Rahah was introduced to Abdul Razak Hussein, by then already an active member of the United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO), by Taib Andak, a friend of Abdul Razak while studying in London
. They married on 4 September 1952.
Abdul Razak became the second Prime Minister of Malaysia
in 1970. As the prime minister's spouse, she served as President of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia and patron of the Muslim Women's Action Organisation (Pertiwi). In 1976, Razak died in office, leaving Rahah widowed at the relatively young age of 43.
She is the chancellor
of Universiti Tun Abdul Razak
, the university founded in honour of her husband. Since Abdul Razak was the prime minister who established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China
, all Chinese ambassadors make a courtesy call on Rahah upon arriving in Malaysia.
In an interview conducted in 2011, Rahah said she spends most of her time attending religious classes with friends.
Rahah's sister, Suhaila
, was married to Abdul Razak's successor as prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn.
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 Abdul Razak and the mother of current Prime Minister Najib Razak. She is the daughter of Mohamad Noah Omar, former Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
The Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat is the presiding officer of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. He is responsible for convening sessions of the Dewan Rakyat, organising debates, and examining the admissibility of petitions, bills and amendments.In the absence of the...
.
Biography
Rahah was born 1933 in MuarMuar
Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...
, Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
. She is the youngest of Mohamad Noah Omar's ten children. While attending secondary school in Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
, Rahah was introduced to Abdul Razak Hussein, by then already an active member of the United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
(UMNO), by Taib Andak, a friend of Abdul Razak while studying in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. They married on 4 September 1952.
Abdul Razak became the second 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...
in 1970. As the prime minister's spouse, she served as President of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia and patron of the Muslim Women's Action Organisation (Pertiwi). In 1976, Razak died in office, leaving Rahah widowed at the relatively young age of 43.
She is the chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of Universiti Tun Abdul Razak
Universiti Tun Abdul Razak
Universiti Tun Abdul Razak is Malaysia's first MSC-status private university. It is named after Malaysia's second prime minister, the late YAB Tun Abdul Razak. It is an ISO 9001:2000-certified private university...
, the university founded in honour of her husband. Since Abdul Razak was the prime minister who established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, all Chinese ambassadors make a courtesy call on Rahah upon arriving in Malaysia.
In an interview conducted in 2011, Rahah said she spends most of her time attending religious classes with friends.
Family
Abdul Razak and Rahah have five children:- Mohd Najib (born 1953), the sixth and current Prime Minister of MalaysiaPrime Minister of MalaysiaThe 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...
. - Ahmad Johari (born 1954)
- Mohd Nizam (born 1958)
- Mohd Nazim (born 1962)
- Mohd NazirNazir RazakDato' Seri Mohd Nazir bin Tun Abdul Razak is a Malaysian banking executive. He is the managing director and chief executive of CIMB Group, one of the largest financial services providers in Malaysia...
(born 1964), the current chief executive of CIMBCIMBCIMB Group CIMB Group is a regional universal bank operating in high growth economies in ASEAN. CIMB Group has the widest retail branch network across the region and is an indigenous ASEAN investment bank....
, one of the largest financial services companies in Malaysia
Rahah's sister, Suhaila
Suhaila Noah
Tun Suhaila binti Tan Sri Mohammad Noah is the widow of former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn and the mother of current Minister of Home Affairs Hishamuddin Hussein. She is the daughter of Mohamad Noah Omar, former Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat....
, was married to Abdul Razak's successor as prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn.