KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said his mother Tun Rahah Mohamed Noah always reminded him to protect the good name of the family.
"Allahyarhamah (Rahah) always reminded me to be dedicated in my work and carry out my duties responsibly. It is important to her that we continue to uphold and protect the good name of the family.
"With that in mind, I will uphold her advise and continue to defend the good name of my family," he said.
Najib said it was inevitable for him to face criticism in politics, but he believed that truth would prevail.
The Pekan member of Parliament also thanked the government for the state funeral that was accorded to his mother and described it as an honour and recognition to the contributions made by her and the family of Tun Abdul Razak Hussein to the nation.
"The recognition accorded by the government will surely become the greatest memories for the family of Tun (Abdul) Razak," he said.
Najib described his mother as a loving and kind-hearted person who was the pillar of strength of the entire family.
"My mother raised all her children well that each of us managed to succeed in any field that we chose. It is hard to lose a mother," he said, adding the family accepted Rahah's death as fate.
Rahah died at the Prince Court Medical Centre at about 4.45pm on Friday. She was 87.
Born on June 11, 1933, in Muar, Johor, Rahah married Tun Abdul Razak on Sept 4, 1952.
The couple have five sons; Najib, Datuk Ahmad Johari, Datuk Mohamed Nizam, Datuk Mohamed Nazim, and Datuk Mohamed Nazir.
They had been married for 24 years when Tun Abdul Razak died of leukaemia in 1976.