Zainah, former wife of Malaysia's ex-PM Najib, dies at 70

Zainah Azman, ex-wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, died at 70, marking the end of a life intertwined with Malaysia's political landscape. She was the mother of three children born during her marriage to Najib, who served as the country's sixth prime minister from 2009 to 2018.

Details surrounding her death have not been widely publicised, though her passing represents a significant personal loss within Malaysia's prominent political circles. Najib Razak himself has faced considerable legal challenges in recent years, including convictions related to financial misconduct involving state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Zainah's death comes as Malaysia continues to grapple with ongoing political and governance issues stemming from the 1MDB scandal and its aftermath. The family's experience reflects the turbulent period Malaysia navigated following the 2018 general election, which ended Najib's tenure and led to significant political realignments in the country.

As a member of Malaysia's extended political establishment, Zainah's life encompassed the complexities of navigating public attention and private family matters amid national scrutiny.