REMBAU: 128-year-old Safiah Ujang, believed to be Malaysia’s oldest woman, died at her home in Kampung Seberang Batu Hampar here today.
Safiah, who was born on Feb 11, 1889, died from old age at about noon.
Mohammad Hafiz Abdul Ghani, 29, one of her six grandchildren, said Safiah had been suffering from intestinal cancer and had been in very poor health for the past three weeks.
"I had been looking after my grandmother for a month before her condition worsened. She had been very weak," said Mohammad Hafiz, who is one of Safiah's six grandchildren.
"She had lost her appetite and refused to eat rice. She only requested fruits and milk every day," he said.
On his grandmother’s status as Malaysia’s oldest woman, Mohammad Hafiz said that she was never given an official certificate by the authorities.
"We were only informed (of the fact) verbally by National Registration Department officials during their visit a few months ago," he said.
Safiah is survived by her only child, Abdul Ghani Daud, 74, six grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Her remains were buried at Kampung Seberang Batu Hampar Muslim cemetery centre after Asar prayers today.