KUALA LUMPUR — Renowned economist and academic from Sarawak, Datuk Madeline Berma, has passed away at her home in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, at 11.30am today. She was 64 years old.
Madeline was widely known for her significant contributions to education and community development. Her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, including economist and analyst, Professor Tan Sri Noor Azlan Ghazali, who shared his condolences on Facebook, Awani reported.
“I have lost a friend and a scholar who dedicated her life to improving the human condition, especially in the fight against poverty. A passionate academic, her contributions to the nation were immense,” he wrote in his post earlier today.
Further details regarding her passing are being sought by Astro AWANI.
Throughout her career, Madeline was a frequent political analyst, offering insightful and comprehensive views on various programmes aired on Astro AWANI.
She began her professional journey as an educator and academic before transitioning into leadership roles in several non-governmental organisations and social development committees.
Madeline obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the National University of Malaysia (UKM) in 1982, followed by a Master of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States in 1986. In 1997, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Hull in England.
She served as an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics and Management at UKM until 2018, and held the position of Director of the Tun Fatimah Hashim Women’s Leadership Centre from 2011 to 2016.
Throughout her career, Madeline conducted extensive research on economic development, particularly in rural development, poverty, and women’s issues. She was also deeply involved in social and economic development in Malaysia, with a particular focus on issues affecting Sarawak.
In 2019, Madeline was appointed as a Commissioner for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam). – December 30, 2025