article written by Nur Qistina Ainaa binti Mohd Fadli. Executive, Content & Communications
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, reflects the power of generosity, collaboration, and collective progress. When we give knowledge, support, opportunities, and visibility to women, we create stronger communities where everyone benefits. Giving is not about loss, but about creating meaningful and intentional opportunities for women to thrive. Across generations, Malaysian women have demonstrated how service, compassion, and leadership can uplift others. This Women’s Day, we celebrate four remarkable women whose journeys reflect this spirit of reciprocity, empowerment, and shared progress for future generations.
Tun Fatimah Hashim was a pioneering figure in Malaysia’s political history and a trailblazer for women in leadership as the first woman appointed to the Cabinet of Malaysia. Born on 25 December 1924 in Muar, Johor, she grew up in a large family of fifteen siblings. She began her education in Muar before continuing her studies in Mersing.
She joined UMNO at the age of 21 and rose through the ranks of the women’s movement, eventually leading the Kaum Ibu (Women’s Wing) at the national level. In 1959, she was elected Member of Parliament for Jitra–Padang Terap and served three consecutive terms. On 20 May 1969, she made history as Malaysia’s first female Cabinet Minister when she was appointed Minister of General Welfare, where she played a vital role in delivering humanitarian assistance during a period of national crisis.
Beyond her political achievements, Tun Fatimah was known for her composure, compassion, and quiet strength. She believed in empowering women through unity and collective action, and she initiated the celebration of National Women’s Day in 1962 while helping strengthen the National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO). Her leadership was marked not by loud proclamations but by steady conviction and dignity.
Tun Fatimah Hashim passed away on 9 October 2010. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy continues to grow through the opportunities available to women in leadership, the institutions she helped build, and the enduring belief that women belong at every decision-making table in Malaysia.
To learn more about Tun Fatimah Hashim, you can explore the book Tan Sri Fatimah: Potret Seorang Pemimpin, available in the Perdana Library archive: https://bit.ly/PotretSeorangPemimpin, or contact us at 03-8885 8961 (Library Counter).
The Right Honourable Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat is Malaysia’s first female Chief Justice and a leading figure in the nation’s judicial history. Born on 2 July 1959 in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, she pursued her legal education at the University of Malaya, graduating with honours in 1982. She began her career in public legal service before joining the Judicial and Legal Service in 1986, where she served in multiple legal and judicial capacities across the country.
She steadily rose through Malaysia’s judicial hierarchy, serving as a magistrate, federal counsel, registrar, and senior judicial administrator. She was appointed Judicial Commissioner of the High Court of Malaya in 2006 and became a High Court Judge in 2007. She continued to advance through the Court of Appeal in 2013 and the Federal Court in 2018. On 2 May 2019, she made history as Malaysia’s first female Chief Justice, symbolising a significant breakthrough for gender representation in the country’s highest judicial office.
Throughout her tenure as Chief Justice, Tun Tengku Maimun was known for her firm defence of judicial independence and her calm, principled leadership during challenging periods. She guided the judiciary through the Covid-19 pandemic while supporting efforts to modernise the court system through digitalisation and improved efficiency. She consistently emphasised that judicial decisions must be based on law and evidence rather than public opinion and strongly defended judges against intimidation and unwarranted criticism.
Her service and contributions have been widely recognised through multiple honours, including the title Tun, awarded in 2020. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of Malaysian women pursuing careers in law, leadership, and public service while strengthening confidence in the nation’s judicial institution.
Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam is a Malaysian youth activist known for advocating student safety, gender equality, and inclusive education. She first gained national attention at the age of 17 when her TikTok video calling out a teacher’s inappropriate joke about sexual violence sparked the #MakeSchoolASaferPlace movement. What began as a single video grew into a nationwide conversation about harassment, student safety, and accountability within education systems. Her decision to speak up reflected her belief that education should be safe, inclusive, and empowering for all students.
Born and raised in Shah Alam, Ain developed her curiosity and worldview through reading and exposure to diverse perspectives. These early experiences shaped her understanding of social justice and global issues. Following her activism, she faced online harassment, threats, and intense public scrutiny. Despite emotional and psychological pressure, including periods of anxiety and depression, she continued pursuing her education and later secured a scholarship to continue her studies.
Today, Ain is the founder of Pocket of Pink, a youth-led organisation promoting inclusive and comprehensive education, particularly on consent, bodily autonomy, and child protection. Through programmes such as Express2Empower, Pocket of Pink combines education with creative and interactive learning methods to make sensitive topics more accessible to young learners. She continues her advocacy while pursuing a degree in Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, championing a future where young people, especially girls, feel empowered to participate in shaping society.
Aida Zunaidi and Wong Wei Qi co-founded Ibupreneur, a social enterprise dedicated to helping mothers gain economic independence. With a name that incorporates the Malay word for “mother,” Ibupreneur supports vulnerable, underprivileged, and retired mothers by helping them transform cooking and home-based skills into sustainable income opportunities. The social enterprise provides training through its Ibupreneur Academy, where participants learn digital marketing, financial management, and sales skills.
Through its programmes, Ibupreneur has supported many mothers in improving their household incomes. Graduates of the Ibupreneur Academy have seen their average household income increase from approximately RM1,605 to more than RM4,000 after completing both online and physical training programmes. The initiative focuses not only on financial empowerment but also on building confidence and long-term economic stability for women and families.
When Ibupreneur first started, Aida was still working in a full-time corporate job while managing the social enterprise after work hours, often personally handling product delivery and packaging. As the organisation grew, she learned the importance of delegation, system building, and strategic planning to ensure long-term sustainability. Today, she continues to focus on scaling impact and expanding training opportunities for more mothers across Malaysia.
Aida and Wong Wei Qi’s vision for Ibupreneur is to build a long-term community impact organisation that continues to support mothers beyond immediate financial assistance, helping them achieve dignity, independence, and sustainable livelihoods.
The journeys of these four women remind us that leadership is not only about personal success, but about the communities we build and the lives we uplift together. Through politics, justice, youth activism, and social entrepreneurship, they embody the spirit of Give to Gain — that when we give knowledge, opportunities, safety, education, and dignity to women, we help create a stronger and more equitable society for all.
This is only a small selection from a long list of incredible Malaysian women who continue to lead, serve, and inspire in their own ways. Their stories remind us that when women are empowered, communities grow stronger and societies become more resilient.
This Women’s Day, let us continue the spirit of Give to Gain to build a better community and a better world for all!
Sources
- https://www.ukm.my/pkwtfh/maklumat-tun-fatimah-hashim/
- https://kl.kehakiman.gov.my/en/chief-justice
- https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/07/02/chief-justice-tengku-maimun-on-being-malaysias-first-female-top-judge-and-more/181287#google_vignette
- https://afterschool.my/articles/n-a
- https://www.tatlerasia.com/gen-t/leadership/navigating-the-challenges-of-being-an-entrepreneur-and-motherhood-with-ibupreneur
