Name: Magdalena Anak Lampas
Book Title: SHE: A Tribute to the Women of Malaysia
Publisher: Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development
Year of Publication: 2005
Comments:
In the landscape of Malaysian literature, few books serve as both a historical archive and a source of national pride as effectively as SHE: A Tribute to the Women of Malaysia. Published by the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development, this book was released to celebrate a century of achievements and significant contributions of Malaysian women across various fields in the country.
The book meticulously profiles 101 women who have shaped the nation’s identity. It does not limit “success” to the political arena; instead, it traverses the worlds of education, law, social activism, arts, business, medicine, humanitarian work, and others. Readers are introduced to pioneers such as Tun Fatimah Hashim, the nation’s first woman Cabinet Minister, and Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the first female in all of Asia to become head of a central bank. By documenting these lives, the book ensures that the names of these trailblazers are etched into the national consciousness.
In my view, this book is more than just an engaging read; it is also a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand how the role and contributions of women in Malaysia have evolved over time. It shifts the narrative of history beyond the conventional centres of power and towards the lived experiences and contributions of individuals within society.
Ultimately, SHE: A Tribute to the Women of Malaysia leaves a lasting impression. It underscores a simple yet profound truth: that the progress of a nation is best measured by the dignity, rights, and achievements of its women. In doing so, it affirms that modern Malaysia has been shaped in no small part by the strength, intellect, and perseverance of its female citizens.
Excerpts:
TUN FATIMAH HASHIM
“One of the very few women to have been accorded the title “Tun”- the highest Federal decoration in the country- Fatimah Hashim has more than earned her accolades.
As Malaysia’s first woman Cabinet Minister, Fatimah was responsible for laying a solid foundation for the Welfare Services Ministry, having helmed the top post for almost four years beginning in 1969.A former Wanita Umno Chief and founder of the National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO), she also played a key role in persuading the Government to declare August 25 Women’s Day.” – Page 50
TAN SRI DR ΖETI ΑΚΗΤAR AZIZ
“Zeti Akhtar Aziz – the only woman in Asia to head a central bank – was born on Aug 27, 1947, in Johor Bharu. She is the daughter of Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid and Malay cultural activist Sharifah Azah Syed Mohd Alsagoff.
Armed with a Ph.D. in Monetary Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in the US, she worked from 1979 to 1984 at the Southeast Asian Central Banks and Training Centre and was eventually seconded to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. She joined Bank Negara, the Central Bank of Malaysia, in 1985 as Deputy Manager of the economics department and in 1989 was the Bank’s chief representative in London. On her return in 1994, she became the Bank’s chief economist.” – Page 67
DATUK ASIAH ABU SAMAH
“There is little doubt Asiah played a tremendous role in shaping the direction and quality of education in Malaysia.
Her dedication to the advancement of education is well known, some say even legendary. So no one was surprised when in 1991, Asiah was appointed Director-General of Education, the first woman to secure the position.
A graduate of the University of Malaya, Singapore, she entered the teaching profession in 1961 and taught in several schools including the highly-regarded Tunku Kurshiah College, Seremban, where she served as principal from 1966 to 1970. In 1970, she joined the Education Ministry and was there until she retired in 1993. Retirement failed to slow her down. Her contributions towards the development of a well-informed and caring society through education continued.” – Page 93
THE HONOURABLE TAN SRI SITI NORMA YAACOB
“Women do not want to be men, they just want the economical and social status that men seem to enjoy so easily. Those words, spoken at a women’s summit in 2005, indicate Siti Norma’s concern for the progress of womankind.
Siti Norma, born on July 6 1948, read law in 1962 and was called to the Bar at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, London. Her first post was Senior Assistant Registrar at the High Court, Kuala Lumpur, which she held between 1963 and 1965.
The year 2005 is starred with a cherished moment of legal history: Siti Norma became the first woman ever appointed Chief Judge of the High Court of Malaya.”– Page 173
DATUK ZAKIAH LAIDIN
“The first woman to hold the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Datuk Zakiah Laidin served the force for 36 years, joining as a probationary inspector In 1957.
Born in 1938, she was first posted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the northern state of Penang in 1958. She later assumed the post of head of criminal records there.Three years later, she was promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police and became head of the women’s police force at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.
Throughout her phenomenally successful career, she kept an eye out for her colleagues. In 1974, women in the police force began to receive equal pay due to her efforts.Zakiah became the first woman ACP in December 1982 and served as head of the services section of Bukit Aman.” – Page 179
This book is available at the Perdana Library. If you are interested in reading or borrowing the book, please visit our Library in Putrajaya, or contact us at 03-8885 8961 (Library Counter).
