ID :
99322
Mon, 01/11/2010 - 15:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/99322
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MALAYSIAN PM PAYS TRIBUTE TO LATE FIRST WOMAN MINISTER FATIMAH HASHIM
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- Najib Tun Razak today paid
tribute to Dr Fatimah Hashim, the first woman appointed to the cabinet who died Jan 10, saying she was a fighter who had done a lot of good deeds to the country, government and United Malays National Organisation (Umno).
UMNO is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the Barisan
Nasional coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since
independence.
The Prime Minister said as one of those who joined the cabinet during the
country's formative years following the independence, Fatimah, who died at the
age of 85, had contributed immensely to the government and country.
He also described Fatimah as an exemplary women figure who had laid the
foundation for the struggle of women at the very early stage of Malaysia's
nationhood.
"I regard the late Tun Fatimah as a fighter, a women leader and an important
figure in the government who had done a lot of good deeds to the country," he
told reporters after attending her burial at the Warrior’s Mausoleum at the
National Mosque, here today.
Fatimah, who died at her home at 11.35pm due to old age, was buried at
2.10pm.
Meanwhile, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul
Jalil said Fatimah's death was a great loss to the nation and
women.
"We greatly apreciate Tun's deeds and contrbutions because she was a pioneer
not only in terms of women affairs in Malaysia but also in welfare activities to
the extent that she had raised women affairs as one of the thrusts in the
government.
"Her vision and mission for the development of women in the country had
enabled the women to achieve various notable successes until today," Shahrizat,
who is also Wanita Umno head, told reporters here.
Earlier, she had officially opened a seminar to build strong family ties
organised by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Hakka Association and Hakka Women
Association at the Sunway Lagoon, near here.
Shahrizat said Fatimah had inspired Malaysians, particularly the women,
because of her firmness and courage besides having her own vision and mission
for Malaysian women.
A former colleague, Aishah Ghani described Fatimah as a highly
dedicated woman who had contributed significantly to the country.
"She was a leader who was well-liked by Wanita Umno. We used to go all over
the country together to strengthen Umno, empower Wanita Umno. I'm deeply
affected by her passing," she told reporters when met at the former minister's
residence at Bukit Pantai, here.
Former International Trade and Industry Minister, Rafidah Aziz said
Fatimah was instrumental in bringing her into the political arena.
"Tun was the one who brought me into active politics because she had
enrolled me as a member of Wanita Umno and appointed me as a member of the Umno
Economic Bureau, and I myself was not aware and my involvement in politics was
entirely because of the late Fatimah," she said.
"When she was the NCWO (National Council of Women's Organisations)
president, Fatimah had brought scores of non-govermental organisations (NGOs) in
the country under one umbrella and from there we had successfully fought for the
rights of women such as income tax, salary and other perks on par with the men,"
she said.
Former Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir described
Fatimah as a wise and extraordinary woman who was willing to sacrifice personal
interests for the sake of the people and country.
"She had personal traits which were rare among women and the younger
generation and our students should learn from such leadership qualities," said
Abdul Kadir who once served as Fatimah's Political Secretary in the 1970's.
Fatimah, who is survived by six children, was buried next to the grave of
her husband, Abdul Kadir Yusoff, who was a former attorney-general, and
Law and National Development Minister, who died in April 1992.
Fatimah joined politics in 1947 and had held the post of Head of the Umno
Kaum Ibu movement, which is now known as Wanita Umno, from September 1956 until
June 1972.
She was appointed Welfare Minister on May 20, 1969 until March 1, 1973.
On Aug 19 last year, she was chosen as one of the four outstanding
Malaysians to receive the Merdeka Award for the Education and Community
category.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom led the
prayers prior to the burial which was attended by over 200 relatives and
friends.
Also present were the prime minister's, wife Rosmah Mansor;
Shahrizat, Chief Secretary to the Government Sidek Hassan and several
cabinet ministers.
Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said
Fatimah's demise meant that the nation had lost a woman who would be difficult
to replace.
"The country and the people have lost a woman who had made significant
contributions. We can say that the late Tun Fatimah was an asset to the cause of
women nationalism particularly through Umno and values of basic struggles which
is hard to replace," he said.
Fatimah's struggles on women's issues had been passed on to the leaders
after her, such as Umno veteran Aishah Ghani, former Minister of
International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz and Women, Family and
Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said Rais.
-- BERNAMA
tribute to Dr Fatimah Hashim, the first woman appointed to the cabinet who died Jan 10, saying she was a fighter who had done a lot of good deeds to the country, government and United Malays National Organisation (Umno).
UMNO is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the Barisan
Nasional coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since
independence.
The Prime Minister said as one of those who joined the cabinet during the
country's formative years following the independence, Fatimah, who died at the
age of 85, had contributed immensely to the government and country.
He also described Fatimah as an exemplary women figure who had laid the
foundation for the struggle of women at the very early stage of Malaysia's
nationhood.
"I regard the late Tun Fatimah as a fighter, a women leader and an important
figure in the government who had done a lot of good deeds to the country," he
told reporters after attending her burial at the Warrior’s Mausoleum at the
National Mosque, here today.
Fatimah, who died at her home at 11.35pm due to old age, was buried at
2.10pm.
Meanwhile, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul
Jalil said Fatimah's death was a great loss to the nation and
women.
"We greatly apreciate Tun's deeds and contrbutions because she was a pioneer
not only in terms of women affairs in Malaysia but also in welfare activities to
the extent that she had raised women affairs as one of the thrusts in the
government.
"Her vision and mission for the development of women in the country had
enabled the women to achieve various notable successes until today," Shahrizat,
who is also Wanita Umno head, told reporters here.
Earlier, she had officially opened a seminar to build strong family ties
organised by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Hakka Association and Hakka Women
Association at the Sunway Lagoon, near here.
Shahrizat said Fatimah had inspired Malaysians, particularly the women,
because of her firmness and courage besides having her own vision and mission
for Malaysian women.
A former colleague, Aishah Ghani described Fatimah as a highly
dedicated woman who had contributed significantly to the country.
"She was a leader who was well-liked by Wanita Umno. We used to go all over
the country together to strengthen Umno, empower Wanita Umno. I'm deeply
affected by her passing," she told reporters when met at the former minister's
residence at Bukit Pantai, here.
Former International Trade and Industry Minister, Rafidah Aziz said
Fatimah was instrumental in bringing her into the political arena.
"Tun was the one who brought me into active politics because she had
enrolled me as a member of Wanita Umno and appointed me as a member of the Umno
Economic Bureau, and I myself was not aware and my involvement in politics was
entirely because of the late Fatimah," she said.
"When she was the NCWO (National Council of Women's Organisations)
president, Fatimah had brought scores of non-govermental organisations (NGOs) in
the country under one umbrella and from there we had successfully fought for the
rights of women such as income tax, salary and other perks on par with the men,"
she said.
Former Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir described
Fatimah as a wise and extraordinary woman who was willing to sacrifice personal
interests for the sake of the people and country.
"She had personal traits which were rare among women and the younger
generation and our students should learn from such leadership qualities," said
Abdul Kadir who once served as Fatimah's Political Secretary in the 1970's.
Fatimah, who is survived by six children, was buried next to the grave of
her husband, Abdul Kadir Yusoff, who was a former attorney-general, and
Law and National Development Minister, who died in April 1992.
Fatimah joined politics in 1947 and had held the post of Head of the Umno
Kaum Ibu movement, which is now known as Wanita Umno, from September 1956 until
June 1972.
She was appointed Welfare Minister on May 20, 1969 until March 1, 1973.
On Aug 19 last year, she was chosen as one of the four outstanding
Malaysians to receive the Merdeka Award for the Education and Community
category.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom led the
prayers prior to the burial which was attended by over 200 relatives and
friends.
Also present were the prime minister's, wife Rosmah Mansor;
Shahrizat, Chief Secretary to the Government Sidek Hassan and several
cabinet ministers.
Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said
Fatimah's demise meant that the nation had lost a woman who would be difficult
to replace.
"The country and the people have lost a woman who had made significant
contributions. We can say that the late Tun Fatimah was an asset to the cause of
women nationalism particularly through Umno and values of basic struggles which
is hard to replace," he said.
Fatimah's struggles on women's issues had been passed on to the leaders
after her, such as Umno veteran Aishah Ghani, former Minister of
International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz and Women, Family and
Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said Rais.
-- BERNAMA
