Renowned Sarawakian economist & academic Datuk Madeline Berma passed away at her Bangi home today
PETALING JAYA: Prominent economist and academic from Sarawak, Datuk Madeline Berma, has died at her residence in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, this morning at 11.30am.
The respected community figure, widely recognised for her extensive contributions to education and community development, breathed her last at the age of 64.
News of her passing was shared by colleagues and close associates, including economic analyst Prof. Tan Sri Noor Azlan Ghazali on Facebook.
“I have lost a friend and scholar who championed the lives of people, particularly in poverty eradication,” he wrote.
“An academic who embodied her struggle. Her contributions to the nation were immense.”
Madeline was a political analyst who frequently shared insightful and comprehensive perspectives on various television programmes.
She began her career as an educator and academic before transitioning into leadership roles across several non-governmental organisations and social development committees.
Her educational credentials were impressive. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 1982, followed by a Master of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States, in 1986, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Hull, England, in 1997.
Madeline served as an associate professor at UKM’s Faculty of Economics and Management until 2018. She also held the position of Director at the Tun Fatimah Hashim Women’s Leadership Centre from 2011 to 2016.
Throughout her career, she conducted extensive research on economic development, particularly focusing on rural area development, poverty, and women’s issues.
She was actively involved in Malaysia’s economic and social development sectors, with special emphasis on issues relating to Sarawak’s development.
In 2019, Madeline was appointed as Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), further cementing her legacy as an advocate for social justice and human rights.
Her passing represents a significant loss to Malaysia’s academic community and to those working towards poverty eradication and social development across the nation.
