GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s ‘grand dame’ of philanthropy and high society, Datuk Zubaidah C.M Hashim, died yesterday at the age of 86.

The mother of seven and wife of Bank Bumiputra founding director, the late Datuk K. Mushir Ariff, had collapsed at her apartment in Kuala Lumpur.

“She was brought to the Glenagles Hospital where she died at 7pm of heart failure,” said her eldest son Datuk Sri Nazir Ariff Mushir Ariff.

Zubaidah began voluntary work in 1947.

Her involvement in social work included the Women’s Institute, Penang Perkim and she also served as a trustee of the Federation School for the Deaf.

She was also active in Umno’s Kaum Ibu (Ladies Section) in the 1940s.

Six years ago, she rounded up her children to help build a Cambodian mosque in memory of their late father.

The Masjid Haji Mushir Ariff in Kampot, southern Cambodia, was officially opened by Zubaidah in the presence of her children and grandchildren in August 2008.

Zubaidah’s funeral will be held at 10am today from No 2, Jalan Rimba, Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, after which her body will be taken to the Taman Tasik Titiwangsa cemetery for burial.

-NST