Prominent female Quran reciter Rogayah Sulong dies

KUALA TERENGGANU - Prominent female Quran reciter Datuk Rogayah Sulong died at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) here this morning. She was 81.

Her grandnephew, Mohd Faizal Hassan, 39, said the seven-time winner of the national-level Quran recital competition breathed her last at 8.17 am three days after receiving treatment at the hospital.

"The late Rogayah also received an award in conjunction with the national-level Maulidur Rasul celebration from then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mua’dzam Shah in 2012," he told Bernama.

In addition, he said, Rogayah’s efforts to bring the Quran closer to the community and share the knowledge of reciting the Quran with proper tajwid and tarannum (melodic recitation of Quranic verses) were also recognised by the state government when she received the Tokoh Wanita Terengganu award in 2010.

According to Mohd Faizal, Rogayah had not only made the state proud by winning Quran recital competitions at both national and international levels as well as various awards, but she also remained active in teaching the Quran despite her old age.

"Rogayah, who married the late Megat Othman Megat Chik, had no children, so she raised my mother, who was her niece, since she was a child," he said.

Rogayah’s remains will be laid to rest at the Kampung Banggol Tuan Muda Muslim Cemetery near here after Zohor prayers today. - BERNAMA