PETALING JAYA: Former ambassador Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, the co-founder of prominent moderate civil group G25, has passed away.
G25 Malaysia executive secretary Jasmine Zulkifli confirmed that Noor Farida passed away at Hospital Kuala Lumpur yesterday afternoon.
The esteemed former civil servant was 76.
“Noor Farida had been hospitalised for several weeks,” said Jasmine, adding that funeral prayers was held at Masjid Jamek Kampung Bharu mosque in Kuala Lumpur followed by burial at the Jalan Ampang Islam cemetery yesterday evening.
Bernama chairman and Star Media Group adviser Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai said he was saddened by her demise.
Describing Noor Farida as a friend and fellow moderate, he said Malaysia had lost a voice of reason and conscience.
“She would always speak up for a moderate Malaysia,” he said.
Fellow moderate advocate Anas Zubedy described Noor Farida’s passing as a great loss to the nation.
“She was always genuine in her endeavours, especially when it came to unity and fighting corruption to the point she remained concerned about the country when she was unwell.
“It was truly an honour to have worked towards a similar cause as her,” he said.
Another fellow prominent moderate lawyer-activist Siti Kasim described Noor Farida as “a true woman of substance” who left a great impact on the lives of many, including herself.
“‘A true woman of substance is one who never lets adversity define her, but uses it to fuel her determination’. This poignant quote from the novel A Woman of Substance encapsulates the strength and resilience inherent in her (Noor Farida) who refused to succumb to life’s challenges.
“Every life has an impact on this world as she certainly did in mine. Special thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with her family during this time of sorrow. I shall greatly miss her,” she wrote on X yesterday.
G25 member Tawfik Ismail described Noor Farida as a pillar of strength and a vocal defender of freedom against encroachment by religious extremists.
“She also authored many G25 statements in that regard and worked hard in G25 to champion a bigger role for women in public affairs.
“As a diplomat, she served the country well in our dealings with the European Union, using her background in law and experience.
“She displayed a good example of how well women are regarded and valued in Malaysian public life, internationally,” Tawfik said.
Noor Farida’s colourful career began more than five decades ago in the civil service, starting with the Judicial and Legal Service in 1971.
There she served for 25 years in various capacity including as magistrate and Sessions Court judge before becoming the director of Legal Aid Bureau from 1980 to 1984.
She was then seconded from the Attorney General’s Chambers to serve as the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Women and Development Programme director from 1988 to 1992.
She was further seconded in 1993 to head the Foreign Ministry’s Legal Division until 1996 where she played a key role in representing the government at meetings of the United Nations Sixth (Legal) Committee.
She also represented the government during the UN Secretary-General’s Face to Face Consultations on Part XI of the UN Law of the Sea Convention (Unclos), an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities, from November 1993 until its successful conclusion in July 1994.
Noor Farida was then transferred to the Foreign Ministry in 1996 to serve as its Under-Secretary of Territorial and Maritime Division until 2000.
In 2000, she was appointed as the Malaysian ambassador to the Netherlands until 2007 before being promoted to director-general of Wisma Putra’s research, treaties and international law department.
She served in the role until 2012 where she then retired from civil service but continued her social work by heading the law reform committee at the National Council of Women Organisations.
