Malaysian PM Badawi's mother dies

Malaysian PM Badawi's mother dies

MALAYSIA: Kailan Hassan, the mother of Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, died on Monday of natural causes, officials said. She was 79.

Kailan died at home in Penang state, about 300 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur, said Badawi's press secretary Azhar Osman. She had not suffered any recent illnesses.

Badawi, Kailan's eldest child, was rushing back to Penang to handle funeral arrangements, Azhar told The Associated Press.

Kailan is survived by Badawi, two other sons and a daughter. Her husband died in 1977.

When Badawi took power last October, replacing veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad who retired after 22 years in office, Kailan said she was happy her son had been entrusted to lead the nation.

"Everything is up to God," Kailan told reporters. "It never crossed my mind Badawi would become the prime minister." - AP