Dayang Raoyah, 63, who was also deputy chairman of the Sarikei District Council (MDS), was earlier brought from Kuching Hospital.

MDS Chairman Chan Pan Chan said he was informed of her death by MDS members.

He said about three weeks ago, he was told that Dayang Raoyah had been warded at a private specialist hospital in Kuching due to a health problem.

“Her passing is a big loss to us at MDS as she was hardworking, responsible and fully dedicated in carrying out her tasks since holding the post of MDS deputy chairman over 20 years ago,” Chan said when contacted today.

A mother of four, Dayang Raoyah was appointed as one of the political secretaries to the Sarawak chief minister in 2014.

She was also a Supreme Executive Council member of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s (PBB) Women’s wing and the party’s Kuala Rajang Women’s wing chief.

Dayang Raoyah will be laid to rest at the Sarikei Muslim burial ground before Maghrib prayers today.

Among those who paid their last respects at her residence were state Manpower Development and Training Assistant Minister Len Talif Salleh, who is also assistant minister for environment, and Tanjung Manis MP Norah Abdul Rahman.

– BERNAMA