KUCHING: Datuk Dr Madeline Berma, a respected economist, academic and public intellectual has passed away today (Dec 30).
News of her demise spread rapidly across social media platforms, prompting an outpouring of condolences and tributes from the academic community, policymakers and members of the public.
Messages of sympathy were widely shared on Facebook, WhatsApp and other online platforms, with many remembering her decades-long contributions to economic research, human rights advocacy and public policy.
Among the condolence messages circulating online was an official poster issued by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), expressing condolences to her family.
The poster confirmed that Madeline, an alumna of UKM’s Faculty of Economics (Class of 1982), had passed away, and conveyed prayers for strength and fortitude for her loved ones.
Madeline was a graduate of UKM and later obtained her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and her doctorate from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom.
She spent more than three decades in academia, primarily at UKM’s Faculty of Economics and Management, where she was widely recognised for her work in development economics, poverty studies, rural development and women’s economic empowerment.
Beyond academia, she played an active role in public service and policy discourse.
She previously served as a commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), contributing to national discussions on human rights, social justice and inclusive development.
In January this year, she was appointed as a member of the Sarawak Economic Action Council, where she contributed her expertise to economic planning and development strategies under Sarawak’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
Madeline was also associated with several academic and leadership initiatives, including women’s leadership development, and was regarded as a principled scholar and mentor who consistently bridged research with real-world policy concerns.
Her passing marks a significant loss to Malaysia’s academic and policy landscape.
Tributes continue to pour in as many remember her intellectual rigor, quiet dedication and lifelong commitment to advancing equitable and inclusive development.
