PEOPLE'S MUSEUM
TUN DATUK SERI UTAMA DR. SITI HASMAH BINTI MOHAMED ALI
She is the wife of the former fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Datuk Seri Utama Dr Mahathir Mohamed. She became the First Lady for 23 years. Due to her background education in medical field, she is very concerned about women’s health development, family planning, drug controls as well as illiteracy among women. At present, she is elected as the Chancellor of Multimedia University.
DATIN PADUKA SERI ENDON BINTI MAHMOOD
She had worked in government services before marrying Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. She chose optional retirement in 1976. She had always been giving her upmost moral support to her husband especially when her husband was elected as the fifth Prime Minister in 2004. Undeniably, she was very much active in social and cultural activities. She had established many welfare funds as she was very apprehensive about the public’s difficulties.
Apart from that, she was an important figure in introducing and promoting local textiles to the whole world; especially on the usage of batik and songket weaving. She passed away in October 2005 due to breast cancer and was lain to rest in the Muslim Cemetery at Precinct 20, Putrajaya.
TOH PUAN UMASUNDARI SAMBANTHAN
Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan is the wife of late Tun V.T Sambanthan. Despite her husband’s achievement in politics, she was an activist, social volunteer and the precursor of the co-operation movements in Malaysia. She is the offspring of O.M Subramaniam and Jayalakshmi Swaminathan Sastrigal. She was born in Bruas, Perak. In 1942, she was honoured the Best Indian Student Scholarship. Then, she pursued her studies in Science at Madras University mastering in Chemistry and obtained the First Class Degree.
Her contributions were very eminent especially on citizenship issue during the pre-independence era. She was active in inculcating citizenship conscience among the people especially the urban women on the benefits of citizenship. She worked hard to ensure that uneducated rubber tappers were abreast to the modernization.
Apart from that, she was involved in succeeding the women’s and the children’s rights and status through the National Council of Women's Organisations (NCWO). She had served and held the presidency for four years. In fact, she was honoured the Tun Fatimah Gold Medalion by NCWO in 1992 in conjunction with Women’s Day celebration. She was active in Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), Sri Ramakrishna Sarada Society and Children's International Art Class. In addition, she performed her duty as the Chairman dan Director of National Land Finance Co-operative Society (NLFC). In 1996, she attended the Asean Regional Conference of the International Cooperative Alliance held in Kuala Lumpur.
TAN SRI SITI NORMA BINTI YAAKOB
On 30th January 2008, the former Chief Judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Norma binti Yaakob was elected as one of the six new judges of Dubai International Finance Court (DIFC).
Siti Norma was the first woman judge who had joined the court. It is a free judiciary system that has the authority in handling internal and external rising matters in DIFC. It is established with the foundation of laws resoluted by UAE Vice President, the Prime Minister and the ruler of Dubai, Mohammed Rashid al Maktoum in December 2004.
She retired at the age of 67 on 5th January 2007 after 47 years of service in judiciary profession in the country. She was the first Malaysian woman to hold the post of the High Court Judge before becoming the Court of Appeal Judge, the Judge of Federal Court and the Chief Judge of Malaya in 2005.
PROFESOR DATUK DR MAZLAN BINTI OTHMAN
She was born on December 11, 1951, in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. She received her early education from Tunku Khursiah College, Seremban in 1971 and pursued her First Degree in Physics at the University of Otago, New Zealand in 1975. Later, she obtained her Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Astrophysics in 1981 from the same university.
She was the first Malaysian woman who owned the qualification in Astronomy and Astrophysics and the only professional female in Astrophysics. She was one of the experts elected by the government to prepare the working paper in establishing the Planetarium in Kuala Lumpur. Apart from that, she was the first Malaysian who applied to be a cosmonaut. Not only that, Dr. Mazlan Othman was the first Chief Director of the Outer Space Science Agency as well as the Professor of Astrophysics in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2002. She made Malaysian woman proud by being the first woman who attained the Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Physics from the University of Otago, New Zealand in 1981.
TAN SRI DR SALMA BINTI ISMAIL
She was the first Malay woman to be called a doctor. She had devoted herself in medical field for more than half a century. At present she has reached the age of 90 and has to comply with her age restriction. Yet, she still adores the medical profession.
Ever since she graduated with a Degree in Medical in 1949, she only retired fully in 2005, at the age of 87.
Salma who was born on 19th December 1918 in Kampung Perak, Alor Setar, Kedah mentioned that, at first she had no ambition to be a doctor. Nevertheless, after getting an excellent result in Senior Cambridge Examination in 1936, she was choosen to pursue Medical Course at a medical college in Singapore. She confessed that the opportunity given by the Kedah State Government was not a vigour.
Since then, Salmah did not turn back despite admitting that the medical field was very difficult especially for women in those days. Although her studies were interrupted for several years when the Japanese invaded Malaya, Salma was determined to resume her studies until she graduated as a doctor.
The first child of the four siblings has served as a medical officer at Alor Setar Hospital after her graduation. Her commitments as a doctor continued even though she is married. She is married to Dr. Abu Bakar Ibrahim in 1950 and was granted four offsprings.
In 1956, Salma pursued her studies in Obstetrics in Dublin, Ireland and worked in Kuala Lumpur a few years later.
TUN TEJA
This is the rhyme (Pantun) presented by Hang Nadim to Tun Teja, the beautiful daughter of Bendahara Pahang, when she was enquired whether she would be presented to the King of Melaka and not been appropriated to be wedded to the king.
Tun Teja was addressed as ‘Ratna Benggala’ which means ‘gems from Benggala’ and portrayed as the ‘most beautiful among the beautiful’. Malay Annals stated that ‘… the most demure in Pahang, incomparable in the era, her conduct is the most admired …’ Seri Dewa Raja had described to the king that Tun Teja was considered as the most beautiful and owned such admirable conduct. Thus, the king was very much attracted to her. Unfortunately, she was engaged to the King of Pahang; expecting the best date to be wedded.
After hearing about Tun Teja’s beauty, Sultan Mahmud had offered anyone who could bring home Tun Teja to Melaka, his request will be fulfilled.
PUTERI HANG LI PO
According to the Malay Annals, Tun Perpatih Putih was responsible in bringing home Princess Hang Li Po to Melaka. The advent of the princess was a gift from the Emperor of China to Melaka to dignify the established friendly relationship between the two sovereign countries.
Although there is no official record of the Chinese government on a Chinese princess who was presented to the King of Melaka, the fleet as well as the number of escorts and maidens who arrived in Melaka in 1460, showed that a major event had taken place in Melaka. Furthermore, it was explained that a nearby hill had been reserved as the residence of the Chinese princess with her maidens and her 500 retinues. Conseauently, the designated hill was named Bukit China. The remains such as the well, cemeteries and Chinese features still exist until the present day.
After converted to Islam, Princess Hang Li Po was married to Sultan Mansur Syah. Due to the marriage, Tun Mamat was born. As such, Princess Hang Li Po’s descendants grew in Bukit China.
ZAINON BINTI MUNSHI SULAIMAN (IBU ZAIN)
Her real name is Zainon binti Munshi Sulaiman. She was born on 22nd January 1903 in Nyalas, Melaka. She got married to Amin Sulaiman and were granted three children.
Her contributions inclusive of various arenas namely education, politics and nationalism movements in Malaysia. During her early involvement, she had worked as a teacher immediately after graduating at the age of 16. She was elected as the head of the Malay Female Teachers Association from 1930 to 1949. Apart from that, due to her initiative, Jawi written publishing named ‘Bulan Melayu’ was published especially for female teachers.
Her involvement in politics began in 1946 as she was the early figure in the establishment of UMNO. Later, she was elected as the leader of Persatuan Kaum Ibu and had served for four years. She had served as the Member of Parliament for a term and helped Dato’ Onn Jaafar in Pergerakan Melayu Semenanjung.
This nationalist demised on 2nd April 1989 in Muar, Johor and was rested in Mahmoodiyah Cemetery, Johor.
TAN SRI ROSEMARY CHONG
She is the wife of late Dr. Ching Yaw Zhing. They have five children. She was the first Chinese woman elected as the Member of Parliament and had worked as the Parliamentary Secretary and Deputy Minister. She was also the first female being honoured the title of ‘Tan Sri’ by His Majesty. She was the founder of MCA Women.
She reclined from the political arena in 1986 with the latest position as the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
In contrast, she is still active in social and welfare work. Such activity is establishing the welfare funds for the Ampang Old Folk Home. In addition, she is also active in opera performances so as to raise funds for the Association of the Blinds.
ROSLINDA SAMSU
The country’s pole vault queen Roslinda Samsu was born in Kuala Nerang, Kedah, has shown a growing surge of excellence, including winning a gold medal in 2005 SEA Games in the Philippines. During the 23rd SEA Games held at Rizal Memorial Sports Stadium, Manila, Roslinda had won a gold medal after passing the height of 4.10 metres.
Moreover, she had won a gold medal in the Asian Track and Field Championships (ATF) in Amman, Jordan. In the ring, she had made a record by achieving the height of 4.20 metres. She has been involved in sports since 1998.
SITI SHAHIDAH BINTI ABDULLAH
The country’s hammer throw athlete, Siti Shahidah Abdullah’s luck increasingly sprouted after successfully defending the gold medal in the 24th SEA Games Athletics in Korat. She is a pure local of FELDA Panching Selatan, Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur. She had proven that Malaysian women were superior by defending the gold medal in the 23rd SEA Games in the Philippines. She was one of the athletes who contributed to the seven gold medals won by the National Squad in Korat.
DATUK ROBIAH BINTI ABDUL GHANI
Another Malaysian woman who had made the history as the greatest female is Datuk Robiah Abdul Ghani. She was appointed as Pahang Chief of Police on 13th July 2008 and was the first woman appointed to the post.
Robiah 55, with the rank of SAC has started her service with the Royal Malaysian Police Force since 37 years ago. She was appointed as the acting Pahang Chief of Police with the rank of DCP following the retirement of Datuk Ayob Mohamed on July 12, 2008.
Robiah joined the Royal Malaysian Police on December 15, 1971 and held various positions including as the Investigator Officer of Perak Contingent of Police Headquarters (IPK ) and the Woman Officer of Platoon Commander in Ulu Kinta, Perak in 1974.
Robiah who came from Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, said that the appointment is an honour to uplift the status of women in the police force.
KOLONEL FADZLETTE MERICAN IDRIS
Fadzlette Merican Idris has emerged as the first woman in the history of Kor Perkhidmatan Am (KPA) (Perhubungan Raya) of Army with the rank of Colonel.
She emerged as the second woman among the General Duties officers with such a rank, after Colonel Norulhuda Ahmad, who is at present the Director of Research and Publications at the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for the prevention of violence under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Fadzlette, the rank promoted is an evidence that the army is not only dominated by men. She has served for more than 27 years with the army (ATM) and is currently the Acting Director of the KPA (Public Relations) at the Ministry of Defence Malaysia.
