PETALING JAYA: Former minister and Wanita Umno chief Siti Zaharah Sulaiman died last night. She was 75.
The announcement was made by Umno Supreme Council member and Maran Umno division chief Shahaniza Samsuddin through her Facebook page, Bernama reported.
Siti Zaharah served as national unity and community development minister from December 1999 to March 2004. She was also a minister in the prime minister’s department between 1996 and 1999.
In 1996, she defeated incumbent Rafidah Aziz in the Umno elections to become Wanita Umno chief, but lost to Rafidah in the party polls four years later.
Siti Zaharah was a five-term MP, having served as Mentakab MP from 1986 to 1995, before holding the Paya Besar seat from 1995 to 2008.