Former UMNO Pahang State Executive Councillor Datuk Seri Shahani Zasam Sutin stated that the late former prime minister Tun Abdullah was a leader who valued relationships and cared for everyone, and his love for the late Tun Endon is also fondly remembered.
She mentioned that Abdullah treated everyone like family. Her second child was diagnosed with leukemia, and apart from his usual care, during the late Tun Endon's battle with cancer, Abdullah, who was about to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca, told her that besides praying for his wife, he would also pray for her cancer-stricken son.
"My fourth child's name–Anza was even named by Pak Lah, saying it's the name of the Prophet's friend."
Endon was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and passed away on October 20, 2005. Abdullah remarried Tun Jeanne Abdullah in 2007.
She posted on Facebook today (15th) that she, along with former UMNO leader Datuk Noraini Ashlin, visited Abdullah a few days before his remarriage to Jeanne Abdullah.
"I saw that there was still a photo of the late Aunt Endon on Pak Lah's table, and I subconsciously asked, 'Pak Lah, you still keep Auntie's photo?'"
"Pak Lah gently smiled and replied, 'Why not? You can't forget an old wife just because you have a new one?'"
She said, Pak Lah then told her that he still frequently visits Endon's grave and that Jeanne Abdullah often reminds him to visit Endon's grave regularly.
"I couldn't help but ask about his true feelings, and he said, 'Shah, Heaven has given us love, and we should love everyone, but the love for a mother, a wife, and a daughter cannot be compared the same way, right?'"
"Pak Lah still loves Endon and will always remember her, just like when we eat fruits, we like rambutan, and we like durian, but we don't compare these fruits, right?"
Shahani Zasman Sutin continued, "Pak Lah's words left me speechless."
She later told Pak Lah that she once told her husband that if she were to pass away before him and he remarried, she would turn into a zombie and strangle him, which made Pak Lah laugh!
She mentioned that their visit happened to be on Father's Day, so they brought chocolates. Seeing the chocolate, Pak Lah reminisced and told them that during his first date with Endon, he gave her chocolates, which brought tears to her eyes as she could feel Pak Lah's emotions.
She said that when she rushed to "Pak Lah's" home after hearing of Abdullah's passing to pay her last respects, Pak Lah's daughter, Nori, said to her, "We have many shared memories."
She recalled during the UMNO women's youth wing elections, (the current UMNO Women's Wing Chairman) Datuk Noraini and Datuk Suraya contested for the women's youth chief, while she (Shahani Zasman Sutin), Rosnah Cherline, and Bibi Shariza competed for deputy chief.
"We were called by then-Prime Minister and UMNO President Pak Lah to the Prime Minister's office in Putrajaya, where he invited everyone to discuss, hoping for no election if possible. Let's talk it out first."
She mentioned that everyone was a bit surprised at Abdullah's request.
During the meeting, Abdullah also asked everyone to express their opinions with a smile on his face, listening to them.
"Initially, we wouldn't give in, but Pak Lah kept persuading us, and we eventually compromised, agreeing to follow his suggestion."
She said that in the end Noraini and Rosnah became chief and deputy chief respectively, Bibi became the secretary-general, and Suraya became the treasurer, while she took the position of director of the publicity bureau.
She stated that this demonstrated Abdullah's leadership charisma.