Renowned economist Madeline Berma passes away at 67
by Matthew Umpang · Borneo Post OnlineKUCHING (Dec 30): Renowned economist and former Suhakam commissioner Datuk Prof Dr Madeline Berma passed away in Bangi, Selangor, today.
The 67-year-old Sarawakian, who was a Fellow of the Malaysian Future Institute and a recently appointed member of the Sarawak Economic Action Council, was widely regarded as one of nation’s leading experts on the intersection of poverty and human rights.
She leaves behind a profound legacy as a champion of the poor and a defender of indigenous rights.
During her tenure with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, she was celebrated for her ‘bottom-up’ approach to economics, consistently prioritising the voices of those in the interior over sterile data.
Madeline was a fierce advocate for a rights-based approach to Native Customary Rights land, arguing that for the Orang Asal, land was a fundamental right tied to identity rather than a mere asset.
She was known for her hands-on leadership, often leaving the office for ‘Suhakam Bersama Masyarakat’ sessions in longhouses and plantations to ensure the commission served as a shield for the marginalised.
Among her most significant contributions was her work on the documentation crisis in rural Sarawak, as she frequently highlighted how a lack of identification documents was the beginning of poverty for children denied access to schooling and healthcare.
In January 2025, the Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg appointed her to the Sarawak Economic Action Council to help shape the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 and the 13th Malaysia Plan.
Her passing marks the loss of a tireless advocate who dedicated her life to ensuring that economic development never ignored human dignity.
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