Endon Mahmood

Dato' Seri Datin Paduka Endon binte Mahmood Ambak (December 24, 1940 – October 20, 2005) was the wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi. She was informally known as "Kak Endon".

Endon was born to Datuk Mahmood Ambak, a Malay, and Datin Mariam Abdullah, a Japanese. Endon had eight other siblings, including her twin sister, Rahmah Mahmood and Azizah Mahmood. She was born in Klang, Selangor.

Endon's father worked as a mining assistant in the Department of Mines, and subsequently transferred there to help oversee about 60 mines in the district. Endon spent much of her childhood days in Kampar, Perak, and received her early education at the Anglo-Chinese School, now Sekolah Kebangsaan Methodist, in Kampar. She later went on to attend St Mary’s secondary school in Kuala Lumpur.

Endon met Abdullah at Federal Establishment Office (now the Public Service Department) in the 1960s and were married in 1965. Endon later retired from civil service in 1976.

Together with Abdullah, Endon had two children: Kamaluddin, a business tycoon (married to Azrene) and a daughter, Nori (married to Khairy Jamaluddin). Both Abdullah and Endon had four grandchildren.

Endon is noted for her contributions to traditional fabric art such as the batik 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 conferred the Tun Fatimah Award by the National Council of Women's Organisation on August 24, 2004 for her service to the community. Endon was also bestowed the Darjah Seri Paduka Tuanku Jaafar which carries the title Datuk Seri by the Negri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar on July 19, 2005.

Endon underwent a radical mastectomy on April 18, 2002, which was followed by 33 sessions of radiation and a series of physiotherapy sessions at St John’s. Endon discovered she had breast cancer 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 Abraxene 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 October 20 2005, Endon passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. She died at 7.55am. A state funeral was conducted at the Prime Minister's residence and the Putra Mosque (where the final prayers are conducted), both in Putrajaya. Endon was buried at Tanah Perkuburan Islam, Precinct 20, Putrajaya.

References

• "Wonder years in Kampar". October 21, 2005. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)
• "Strength behind her gentleness". October 21, 2005. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Text "The Star" ignored (help)
• "Obituary: Endon Mahmood, wife of Malay leader". October 20, 2005. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)