In a statement, MAA said she would be buried in Saudi Arabia today.
MAA described her passing as a great loss, saying Aishah was highly respected within the local automotive industry as well as by her foreign counterparts in Asean, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), and the Malaysian government.
“Aishah was a legend and one of the leading automotive personalities who devoted the best years of her life contributing to the growth and development of the Malaysian automotive industry with her vision, dedication and passion.
“On behalf of the council, members and staff of the MAA, we extend our most heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to her family,” it said.
Meanwhile, local automotive industry leaders reacted to the news of her death with shock and a great sense of loss.
DRB-Hicom Group managing director Syed Faisal Albar said the group mourns the loss of Aishah with great sadness. He added that she was irreplaceable and her legacy is the impact she made on the industry she so loved.
“Her leadership, vision, and dedication in running the MAA made a lasting impact on the industry and she will be remembered as a tireless champion for the growth and development of the automotive sector in Malaysia.
“Her passing is a great loss to the industry and the entire community,” he said in a statement today.
Proton deputy chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said as MAA president, Aishah played an important role in helping Malaysia’s automotive market grow while ensuring the interests of members were highlighted to the authorities.
“Her passing is a great loss to the industry and her leadership will be missed,” he said, adding that Proton along with all members of Malaysia’s automotive community mourn her loss.
Aishah had helmed MAA since 1991 (when MAA was known as the Malaysian Motor Traders Association or MMTA) and spearheaded the growth of MAA into finally becoming the leading automotive industry association in Malaysia.
Aishah had also been the chairman of the Automotive Federation Malaysia (AFM) since 1998.
MAA said Aishah also served as president of the Asean Automotive Federation (AAF) for three terms, 2000-2002, 2008-2010 and 2015-2017.
“During Aishah’s presidency in 2015-2017, the AAF successfully managed to recruit the Automotive Association of Myanmar (AAM) and Cambodia Automotive Industry Federation (CAIF) as members, thus bringing all 10 Asean member states’ industry associations into AAF,” it said.
Aishah had over 40 years of experience in the automotive industry, making her one of the longest-serving individuals involved in the industry.
She started her career in the mid-1970s with Inchcape Group in Malaysia.
She then joined Ford Malaysia, Tractors Malaysia and finally retired in 2021 when she was with Sime Darby Motors Division.