First Malay woman to qualify as medical doctor dies – Bernama

The first Malay woman who qualified as a medical doctor, Tan Sri Dr Salma Ismail, died of old age at the Pantai Hospital at 6.15pm yesterday.

Dr Salma, 95, is survived by two sons, a daughter and six grandchildren.

Her eldest son, Tan Sri Dr Ridzwan Abu Bakar, 64, said his mother was admitted to the hospital following breathing difficulty.

Her remains were taken to No.6 Jalan Mesra, off Jalan Aman, and were expected to be laid to rest at the Muslim Cemetery, Jalan Ampang before the Zohor prayer, said Dr Ridzwan when met by Bernama at his home last night.

Dr Salma created history by becoming the first Malay woman to qualify as a medical doctor in 1949.

Born in Alor Setar, she served as a medical officer in Kedah and Selangor in the 1950s and 1960s.

Dr Salma was conferred the award Panglima Setia Mahkota in 1997 which carries the title Tan Sri.

"As a woman and a doctor, she lived by the principle, 'have confidence in yourself, be honest, don't talk bad about others and give help to those who need it'," Dr Ridzwan said of his mother. – Bernama, July 21, 2014.