The late Norashikin Mohd Seth, widow of former deputy prime minister Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, was laid to rest after Zohor prayers at the Warriors' Mausoleum at 2.10pm today.

Also present to pay their respects were Prime Minister Najib Razak, former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and Norashikin's family members and relatives.

Her remains were placed in the National Mosque's Lecture Hall from noon until 1.30pm to allow the public to pay their last respects.

Norashikin, 80, passed away at noon yesterday at the Damansara Specialist Hospital due to old age.

She leaves behind six children and 13 grandchildren. Among her four sons is former Sungai Benut MP, Mohamed Tawfik, who is the eldest in the family.

This morning, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin spent about 30 minutes to pay his respects to Norashikin and offer his condolences to her family.

Adamant on driving even at 80

Norashikin's fifth child, Zamakhshari, 46, sang praises for his mother, saying she had ensured they received the best education since their father passed away.

"She not only supported us in furthering our studies abroad, but was also a religious person and performed the Haj every year," he said, adding his late mother was an active woman and a great cook.

Norashikin's daughter, 57-year-old Zailah said her mother was a loyal individual who "loved her grandchildren and frequently spent time with them at the movies and took them on holidays".

"At the age of 80, she was adamant on driving herself everywhere. Everyday she would go to Chow Kit to do her marketing," she said.

Zailah said her mother had also set up the Puteri Islam Malaysia Movement (PPIM) and contributed ideas for the formation of the Association of Wives of Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) in the 1970s.

- Bernama