KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 -- Sensational pop singer Datuk Aishah was one of Malaysia's ultimate 'IT girls' of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

She first found global fame as the frontwoman of Kiwi synth-pop outfit The Fan Club (marketed locally as Aishah and The Fan Club), famously breaking into the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the first and only Malaysian to win a New Zealand Music Award.

Upon returning home, she instantly dominated the local music landscape. Anchored by her evergreen solo masterpiece Janji Manismu, this era cemented her legendary status and brought a succession of major industry accolades.

Following a celebrated 20-year musical career that included a decade-long lawsuit, Aishah pivoted to politics in 2012.

She initi...