Veteran statesman, former lawyer, businessman, property developer, banker, art collector, philanthropist, and most recently, a farmer.
“To my parents I owe everything. They sacrificed to provide me with a good education. Without that, I would not have succeeded.”
A statement from the family of Allahyarham Tun Dr Daim Zainuddin
We wish to express our deepest appreciation to all our family, friends, his friends
from around the world, and Malaysians from all walks of life for visiting at our home,
and praying and paying last respects at the mosque; for their moving messages and
touching tributes to a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather,
Daim Zainuddin.
Many who came, we did not know. They shared their stories of him and how he had
touched their lives; this was most moving of all for us. There was love and kindness all
around.
Our gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses, staff, and management of
Assunta Hospital, for their care and compassion throughout the years and during his
final days.
We thank as well the members of JAWI, Masjid Wilayah, PDRM, and Tanah
Perkuburan Islam Bukit Kiara for their assistance in our time of need.
Knowing Daim, he leaves this world with serenity and gratitude. A proud son of
Kedah, his journey from the kampungs of Alor Setar to the world has been one of
service, and of the privilege of serving religion, race, and the country he loved. He
dedicated his life to Malaysia’s progress, development and economic strength. He
believed that true greatness lies not in power but in the quiet fulfilment of duty.
But above all things, Daim’s core tenet of his life was his deep and defining faith in
Allah. It was always “Syukur kepada Allah”. For all his success in this world, Daim held
the firm belief that it was his faith in Allah that rewarded him. And in times of crisis,
Daim turned to and trusted in Allah. “Do what you can, and leave the rest to Allah”. For
he believed, as we do, that Allah knows best.
While we are so proud of him and his achievements, to us, as a family, he was our
husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was our guide, our protector,
our pillar of strength, and our moral compass. He was not just a man of great intellect
and vision, but a gentle soul who taught us in his words and deeds the values of
humility, integrity, generosity, compassion, and the strength found in restraint. What he
did for others, he rarely spoke of, believing that life’s true measure lies not in what we
gain, but in what we give.
While he no longer walks among us, we hope his efforts - however small - have
helped pave the way for a brighter future for all Malaysians. He spoke widely that our
nation’s strength lies in diversity, unity, hard work, and the unshakeable belief that we
can achieve greatness together. He forever held onto the hope of the potential of this
nation, to see a more just, prosperous, inclusive, and united Malaysia.
To the young people of Malaysia, Daim believed in you. To him you are the future. It is
your Malaysia now. He knew you will face challenges, but he believed that you can
overcome them and not let cynicism nor bitterness take root. His message to you was
that the road to a better Malaysia may be difficult but it will always be worth walking.
To those who worked and walked alongside him, befriended him, supported him,
and believed in his vision, we thank you for enriching his journey. He deeply valued the
bonds he shared with so many across the nation and the world. He often spoke of you
with gratitude, knowing that no man achieved anything alone.
To those who distrusted his efforts, he held no malice; for he himself forgave
without words, carrying the burden of conflict with grace and the same firm composure
that defined his character, leaving all else to the judgement of history.
For us as a family, we are grateful that we have been given the time we had with him.
While his passing leaves an irreplaceable void in our hearts, we take comfort in the
legacy he left behind. As we mourn his loss, we celebrate his life and the ways he
touched the lives of those around him. May his legacy inspire us to be better.
We also humbly request for your prayers and privacy, to reflect and honour his
memory in the way he lived — quietly and with dignity.
May Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, bestow His utmost mercy
upon his soul and accept his good deeds, and place him amongst the righteous in the
highest place in Paradise. Amin.
The Family of Allahyarham Tun Dr Daim Zainuddin
18 Nov 2024
Kuala Lumpur
Kenyataan daripada keluarga Allahyarham Tun Dr Daim Zainuddin
Kami merakamkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada ahli keluarga, sahabat
handai dan kenalan dari seluruh dunia, serta rakyat Malaysia dari segenap lapisan
masyarakat yang meluangkan masa memberikan penghormatan terakhir dan
seterusnya bersama-sama solat jenazah di masjid, juga kepada semua yang
menukilkan ucapan takziah yang menyentuh hati kepada Allahyarham Daim Zainuddin,
suami, ayah, datuk dan moyang tercinta.
Kami tidak mengenali ramai yang datang mengunjung. Kisah dan
pengalaman yang diceritakan mereka mengenai Allahyarham dan bagaimana beliau
memberi kesan kepada kehidupan mereka, sesungguhnya amat mengharukan dan
kami hargai pengkongsian mereka.
Kami merakamkan ucapan terima kasih yang tidak terhingga kepada para
doktor, jururawat, kakitangan dan pihak pengurusan Hospital Assunta, di atas
penjagaan dan keprihatinan yang ditunjukkan selama beberapa tahun sehinggalah
detik terakhir Allahyarham.
Setinggi-tinggi penghargaan juga diucapkan kepada warga JAWI, Masjid
Wilayah, PDRM dan Tanah Perkuburan Islam Bukit Kiara atas segala bantuan yang
diberikan.
Allahyarham pulang ke pangkuan penciptaNya dengan penuh
ketenangan dan kesyukuran. Sesungguhnya, perjalanan hidup anak watan Kedah dari
kampung halamannya di Alor Setar sehinggalah ke pesada dunia, diwarnai dengan jasa
yang dicurahkannya atas semangat untuk berbakti kepada agama, bangsa, dan negara
yang dicintainya. Allahyarham mengabdikan hidupnya ke arah matlamat memajukan,
membangunkan dan memperkasakan ekonomi Malaysia. Baginya, kehebatan yang
hakiki bukan terletak pada kuasa, tetapi pada usaha gigih yang tidak mengharapkan
balasan.
Namun apa yang paling utama, prinsip yang paling dipentingkan oleh
Allahyarham dalam hidupnya, adalah imannya yang mendalam kepada Allah.Sebutan
yang tak tinggal darinya ialah Syukur kepada Allah.
Di sebalik semua kejayaannya di dunia, beliau yakin ganjaran yang diterima adalah
disebabkan keimanannya kepada Allah. Dan apabila berdepan kesukaran, beliau
bertawakal kepada-Nya. “Lakukan apa yang mampu dan selebihnya serahlah kepada
Allah”. Seperti kita, beliau beriman kepada Allah yang Maha Mengetahui.
Pencapaian Allahyarham amat membanggakan kami, namun lebih
daripada semua itu, Allahyarham adalah seorang suami, ayah, datuk dan moyang kami.
Allahyarham adalah guru kami, pelindung kami, sumber kekuatan kami dan
pembimbing akhlak kami. Di sebalik kehebatan akal dan ketinggian wawasan, beliau
berjiwa lembut dan menjadi teladan kepada kami melalui pertuturannya dan tingkah
lakunya, sifat rendah dirinya dan integritinya, sifat murah hati dan rahmah, serta
kekuatannya dalam kesabaran. Jasanya kepada orang jarang-jarang disebutnya, kerana
beliau yakin nilai sebenar kehidupan ini bukan terletak kepada apa yang dimiliki, tetapi
kepada apa yang disumbangkan.
Biarpun Allahyarham tidak lagi berada di samping kita, harapan kami
ialah usaha beliau walau sekecil mana pun telah membantu mencapai masa depan
yang lebih cerah untuk semua rakyat Malaysia. Beliau sentiasa berpesan bahawa
kekuatan negara ini terletak kepada kepelbagaian, perpaduan, usaha gigih dan
keyakinan yang utuh bahawa kita boleh bersama-sama mencapai kegemilangan.
Sehingga ke akhir hayatnya, beliau kekal yakin kepada potensi negara ini, untuk
menjadikan Malaysia lebih adil, makmur, inklusif dan bersatu.
Kepada anak muda Malaysia, Allahyarham meletakkan kepercayaan
kepada anda kerana baginya, anda adalah masa depan dan harapan negara. Malaysia
adalah milik anda sekarang. Beliau menyedari akan cabaran yang mendatang, namun
tetap percaya anda boleh mengatasinya, pada masa sama tidak membiarkan perasaan
curiga dan dendam berakar umbi. Beliau berpesan walaupun jalan menuju Malaysia
yang lebih baik sememangnya penuh ranjau, tetapi percayalah, ia berbaloi untuk
diharungi.
Kepada mereka yang pernah bekerja dengan Allahyarham dan sentiasa
mendampinginya, yang berkawan, menyokong dan mempercayai visinya, kami
terhutang budi kerana kerana andalah yang memperkayakan perjalanan hidupnya.
Beliau amat menghargai ikatan persahabatan yang dijalinkan sama ada di dalam atau
luar negara. Sering kali beliau bercakap mengenai anda dengan penuh rasa syukur,
kerana sedar yang kejayaan tidak mungkin dicapai berseorangan.
Kepada mereka yang menolak usahanya, Allahyarham tidak menyimpan
dendam; beliau memaafkan tanpa kata-kata, dan sanggup memikul beban konflik
dengan perasaan tenang dan kasih sayang yang selama ini mencorakkan wataknya,
sambil menyerahkan segala-galanya kepada sejarah untuk menghakiminya.
Kami sekeluarga memanjatkan syukur kerana diberikan peluang
bersamanya. Walaupun kehilangannya tiada ganti, legasi yang ditinggalkannya
memberikan kami ketenangan. Dalam meratapi kehilangannya, kami meraikan
kehidupannya dan bagaimana beliau menyentuh kehidupan orang di sekelilingnya.
Semoga legasi beliau memberi inspirasi kepada kita semua untuk menjadi insan yang
lebih baik.
Kami dengan penuh tawadduk memanjatkan doa agar Allahyarham
dikenang dan dihormati dalam cara yang sama beliau menjalani kehidupannya —
secara tenang dan bermaruah.
Semoga Allah Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang, mencucuri rahmat ke
atas roh Allahyarham, menerima amal solehnya, dan menempatkannya di kalangan
kekasihNya di syurgaNya yang paling tinggi. Amin.
Keluarga Allahyarham Tun Dr Daim Zainuddin
18 Nov 2024
Kuala Lumpur
DAIM & THE ARTS
Tun Daim Zainudin is known as an economics whiz. Bankers, tycoons, politicians and the press recognize him as the mastermind who extracted Malaysia from economic turmoil in the 1980s and again in the 1990s. But few people know about his zeal for art. Former finance minister advices artists to highlight current issues
Tun Daim Zainuddin, who served as Malaysia’s Finance Minister from 1984 to 1991, said paintings were outlets for all visual artists to become social critics on the economic downturn, political upheavals and issues affecting people at large.
Awarded the International Business Leader 2006 Award by the African Investor magazine for his vision and active investments in the International Commercial Banks (ICBs) operating in Africa. The African Investor Award is the only Pan-African award that recognizes and rewards an international business leader for exceptional business practice, economic achievements and investments across Africa. Previous recipients of the Award include Mr. Bill Gates, founder chairman of Microsoft and Sir Richard Branson, founder chairman of Virgin Atlantic.