TELUK INTAN: The remains of Sariah Ali, who was among the first batch of 54 women recruited into the police force as constables, was laid to rest at the At-Taqwa Mosque Muslim cemetery in Padang Tembak, here, today.
Hundreds of relatives, friends and police officers were at the burial, which took place at 11am.
Also present was Hilir Perak police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Marzukhi Mohd Mokhtar.
Sariah, 87, died in her sleep at her home in Taman Cecily about 2.20pm on Monday.
She leaves behind eight children, 23 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Kamaruddin Mohd Nordin, who was also a policeman, died in 1983 while performing the haj in Mecca at the age of 55.
An ex-colleague, Zainon Mohd Shaari, 60, said Sariah was a friendly and cheerful person.
He said they had worked together at the Hilir Perak police station for 13 years.
“At the time, I was a sergeant major at the police station while Sariah was a telephonist. We called her Kak Ri... she had been serving in the force since 1956, joining when I was only 3 years old.
“The last time I met Sariah was last year... she was the same cheerful and friendly character. “That is how I will always remember my Kak Ri,” he said.