The late Tenaganita chairman and human rights activist, Irene Fernandez's passion and dedication in promoting human rights in Malaysia will be missed, said United States Ambassador to Malaysia, Joseph Y Yun.   

"On behalf of the US Embassy in Malaysia, I would like to express how sorry we all were to hear the news about the passing of Dr Irene Fernandez (Irene)," he said in a statement today.  

Expressing the embassy's deepest condolences to Irene's family and her many friends, Yun said the embassy had nominated her last year for the US State Department's International Women of Courage Award recognising her advocacy for the rights of women, migrant workers, and Aids victims in Malaysia.     

       

A few years earlier, the State Department acknowledged Irene as one of ten leading activists around the world working to end modern-day slavery, he added.      

          

"The US government could not have found a better person to honour. We were all moved by her conviction and her contribution to promoting respect for human rights in Malaysia," he added.  

     

Irene passed away at 10.58 am yesterday due to a heart complication at the coronary care unit of the Serdang Hospital .

- Bernama