This was confirmed by Astro Awani editor Saharudin Musthafa in a Facebook post.

Rosnah, a veteran journalist, was the Tanjong Dawai assemblyman for a term from 1999 to 2004. She was also appointed a member of the Kedah executive council then.

She also held the position of Kedah Wanita Umno liaison committee chief for the 2000/2003 term.

Saharudin said Rosnah was a business journalist with the Jawi pullout of Utusan Malaysia, Utusan Melayu, in its heyday before venturing into politics.

Rosnah was reportedly the first recipient of the Kajai award, given to distinguished Malaysian journalists.

In 1985-1986, she was awarded the Journalise en Europe fellowship by the European Union, to study journalism in Paris.

She was the first Malaysian woman to receive Harvard University’s Nieman Fellowship for journalists (1988-1989).

She entered into the corporate world after her stint in politics, going on to form her own consulting firm, Ramwell Sdn Bhd, in 2007.

Norzahizan Ismail, a friend, said Rosnah had suffered a fall in the bathroom prior to death.

“I was informed that Rosnah had flown to Penang three days ago to visit her sister, who had been admitted to Penang Hospital due to a heart condition.”

Rosnah’s sister, Mariam, said she died at another sister’s residence in Teluk Bahang, Penang, at 9.30am.

She said Rosnah had been suffering from kidney-related complications and underwent a kidney transplant in China in 2001.

“Her remains are currently in Penang and will be laid to rest in Kuala Lumpur,” she added.