13 Inspiring Malaysian Women Who Fought For Our Country & Made History

Inspiring Malaysian women

Our high school Sejarah textbooks have documented famous Malaysian leaders and their services to our country, but there are a bunch of lesser-known fighters and leaders who are as deserving of our respect and recognition. Here are 13 inspiring Malaysian women who had to go the extra mile to overcome gender stereotypes back when it was socially unacceptable for women to hold positions of power, breaking the glass ceiling and paving the way for more women leaders today.

1. PG Lim – respected lawyer and diplomat 

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PG Lim, whose full name was Lim Phaik Gan, was a respected lawyer and diplomat who left a strong impact on the development and growth of our country through her accomplishments.

She earned her impressive Master of Law qualification from Cambridge University and returned to Malaya where she co-founded the Labour Party of Malaya in 1952.

She fought for workers’ unions throughout her career and was also involved in controversial political cases including one where she was the defence attorney for a Communist guerilla leader.

When Parliament was suspended after the May 1969 racial riots, PG was selected to be a part of the National Consultative Council where she lent a hand in developing the New Economic Policy.

To add icing to the cake, she was also the first Malaysian woman to become an ambassador to the United Nations.

2. Sybil Kathigasu – resistance fighter who secretly aided guerillas

Image credit: New Straits Times

Sybil Kathigasu, who worked as a nurse during World War II, aided the resistance fighters by providing medicine and medical care to them during the Japanese Occupation period.

She and her husband, Dr Abdon Clement Kathigasu, operated secretly out of their clinic in the tiny town of Papan, Perak. In fact, the 2-storey shophouse is still standing and currently sits on No. 74, Main Street. It has since been turned into a memorial house, where medical items and equipment used by Sybil herself are on display, open for the public to visit. 

When the Japanese army discovered in 1943 that Sybil was helping the guerilla fighters, they arrested her. She was imprisoned and tortured for 2 years before succumbing to her injuries.

During her imprisonment, reports noted that she refused to reveal any information about the resistance fighters. This act of bravery made her the only Malayan woman to receive the second-highest British award for civilian courage – the George Medal.

If you’d like to visit Sybil’s memorial, contact Law at 017-506 1875 to book a slot.

3. Khatijah Sidek – championed for women’s participation in politics 

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Khatijah Sidek was a bold political figure who fought for women’s rights and girls education during the 1950s in Malaya.

Hailing from Indonesia, her venture into politics began when she joined an anti-colonial women’s group in Sumatra.

In 1946, she moved to Singapore and married a Malayan citizen. There, she continued to rally her support to help uneducated women gain political knowledge by joining the Indonesian and Malay Women’s Assembly, a women’s welfare group.

Unfortunately, her political activities did not sit well with the British administration and she was thrown into jail for 2 years in 1948.

Following her release from prison, she was exiled from Singapore, and that brought her to Malaya where she was invited to join the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

From then on, her progressive ideas on gender equality, such as proposing to allow more women members in congress, was met with rejection and aversion, and earned her the label of being a troublemaker.

She was expelled and received multiple warnings for challenging gender representation and campaigning for more women candidates in the male-dominated political landscape back then. 

Her journey may have been a tumultuous one, but she successfully managed to garner the support of almost 10,000 women to join her movement, and that eventually paved the way for female representation in politics in Malaya.

4. Shamsiah Fakeh – fought alongside guerillas in the jungle

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Shamsiah Fakeh was a distinguished leader for Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS), Malaysia’s first nationalist women organisation, and the Communist Party of Malaya. She was an impassioned nationalist who fought hard for Malaya’s independence.

Shamsiah’s thirst for the country’s independence even led her to join the Malayan People’s Liberation Army where she spent a couple of years hiding in the jungles and fighting alongside her guerilla members.

In 1956, she left for China with her husband, Ibrahim Mohamad, to further her education. They both continued to be involved in a series of political movements such as disseminating propaganda messages while serving as broadcasters on Radio Peking’s Malay language channel, and were later imprisoned for their communist activities.

As a result, the couple was not allowed to return to Malaysia until much later in 1994 when her family, comprising her 3 children and 4 grandchildren, were finally granted permission to return, and Shamsiah lived here till she died from respiratory failure in 2008.

5. Devaki Krishnan – the first Malaysian woman to win the local elections

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Devaki Krishnan is the first Malaysian woman to win the local elections for the Bangsar constituency in 1952, the first Indian woman to compete in the general elections in 1959, and the first non-Malay woman to be awarded the Tan Sri titleship in 1995.

She has tirelessly championed for women to be involved in politics, and her impactful contribution has not gone unnoticed as evident from the awards that have been presented to her, including the Tokoh Wanita Award by NCWO and the Tan Sri Fatimah Award by AVON, just to name a few.

She is also known for her compassion when she served on the medical team during the May 1969 racial riots. She took great care of the victims and the homeless, and ensured their safety before signing off duty herself.

Her notable list of achievements has shaped Malaysian history and paved the way for other inspiring Malaysian women in politics today.

6. Fatimah Hashim – freedom fighter and leader of Wanita UMNO

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Fatimah Hashim was a freedom fighter who joined UMNO at a young age and later went on to become the leader of Wanita UMNO, the women’s association of UMNO, where she served for 16 years and worked alongside prominent figures such as Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak in the quest for Malaya’s independence.

After our country gained independence, Fatimah continued to serve as a Member of Parliament, taking on the position of Social Welfare Minister. Her efforts were focused on uplifting the status of women and championing healthcare and education to help the poor.

She died in 2010 due to old age and her body is buried in the Heroes’ Tomb at the State Mosque, making her the first woman leader to be buried at the respected site.

7. Aishah Ghani – first female Senator in Malaysia

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Aishah Ghani can be considered Fatimah Hashim’s successor as she was also the head of Wanita UMNO and then appointed as Social Welfare Minister after Fatimah retired in 1973.

Aishah ventured into politics when she started off as a journalist for the Malay Nationalist Party official newspaper. She would later go on to write for Berita Harian and then become the editor for New Straits Times.

Aishah also achieved many firsts in Malaysia’s history. She was the first woman to be appointed as Senator in Malaysia and was also our country’s first woman representative at the United Nations General Assembly in 1963.

8. Janaky Athi Nahappan – second in command in the Women’s Regiment

Image credit: History Insights – Malaysia via Facebook 

Janaki Athi Nahappan was a founding member of the Malaysian Indian Congress, making her one of the earliest women involved in the fight for Malaysian independence. At the tender age of 18, she embarked on her journey as a freedom fighter.

However, it was no easy path for her, as she faced strong objections from her family – particularly from her father, who only gave his approval after much persuasion.

Upon entering the military, Nahappan achieved the top rank in the officer’s examinations, making her second in command of the Women’s Regiment. She also joined the Indian National Army to fight for Indian independence in India, alongside the Japanese.

In addition to her military service, Nahappan played a crucial role in the Indian National Congress’s fight for independence. She was even awarded the prestigious Padma Shri award by Tamil Nadu, India, in 2000 for her efforts. Nahappan passed away at the age of 89.

9. Ganga Nayar – the first woman to lead a political party in Malaysia

Image credit: Rohini Katrikassi via Facebook 

Ganga Nayar began her fight for freedom at the age of 34, when she joined the Labour Party of Malaya in 1958. She is known for her thought-provoking quote: “When in politics, you can serve with power, more aggressively. Without politics, you serve passively”.

Her political interests led her to switch from one party to another. In 1974, she left the Gerakan party to join the Directory of American Philosophers. Four years later in 1978, she founded the Women’s Party and served as its founder and president. The party fielded its candidates for the 1978 general election in the Sungei Besi parliamentary constituency and the Sungei Way state constituency. However, Nayar lost her deposits in both contests.

As the first woman to lead a political party in Malaysia, Nayar crossed over to the Parti Gerakan Malaysia and later became the Chief of the Party’s women’s section. Even after her retirement, Nayar remained actively engaged in Malaysia’s political scene.

10. Rasammah Bhupalan – president of the Women Teachers Union

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Rasammah Bhupalan was one of the earliest women in Malaysian history to participate in the fight for the country’s independence. She joined the Rani of Jhansi Regiment and the women’s wing of the Indian National Army to oppose the British colonial rule.

In addition to her service in Burma during WWII, Bhupalan founded and presided over the Women Teachers Union, advocating for equal pay for women teachers. She also became the first Asian representative of the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession. 

11. Anjalai Ponnusamy – fought for women’s rights during post-war Malaya

Image credit: The Sun Daily

Anjalai Ponusamy was a veteran soldier of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the women’s wing of the Indian National Army formed by Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in 1943.

Ponusamy’s journey as a freedom fighter began at the age of 21, when she underwent basic military training in Singapore. During this time, she received instruction on how to operate various weapons, including rifles, the Tommy gun, and the Sten gun.

Her contributions also extended to her advocacy for women’s rights in post-war Malaya. Her campaign for women’s empowerment resonates as a cornerstone of female development in our country.

12. Datuk Seri Tra Zehnder – first female member of the State Legislative Assembly

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Known as the female Iban patriot, Datuk Seri Tra Zehnder earned official recognition for Hari Gawai and Dayak Day. She is a prominent freedom fighter, particularly renowned in the regions of Sabah and Sarawak.

During her early 20s, Zehnder founded the Sarkakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS), where she encouraged more women to take up leadership roles and provided literacy classes for women. She was also the first female member of the State Legislative Assembly, representing the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) in deciding whether Sabah and Sarawak would support the Federation of Malaysia.

At the age of 62, she became the first woman to hold the Temenggong post for the Iban community and received the prestigious Datuk Patinggi Laila Taib Award – Sarawak Premier’s Award for Women’s Leadership. 

13. Lim Beng Hong – the first woman to be called to the Malaysian Bar

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Most often referred to as Mrs. B.H Oon, Lim Beng Hong was the first woman to be called to the Malaysian Bar in 1927 and was also the first Chinese woman to hold a degree from University College London. Hong was elected as the first woman representative of the Federation of Malaya Legislative Council in 1948. 

Both she and her brother made history when they became the first brother and sister to be called to the bar on the same night in 1926. Hong was the first woman in Parliament in Malaya and was also appointed as one of two women representatives of the Federal Legislative Council.

Not only that, she founded the Women’s Charter which was included in the Pan-Malayan Labour Party manifesto and received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Award which was a prestigious award among Commonwealth countries.

Inspiring Malaysian women leaders who made history

Malaysia has gone through its fair shares of ups and downs, wins and losses, and the battles our grandparents had to endure to get to where we are today.

Some of these stories of inspiring Malaysian women ended in tragedy, others in victory, but regardless of the outcome, their spirit and strength show that tenacity and perseverance are key attributes when fighting for a change.

For more inspirational stories, check these out: 

• First Malaysian woman to run 250KM across the Sahara to raise funds
• Couple diagnosed with cancer ends in happy marriage
• Heartwarming food delivery rider stories

Cover image adapted from: Merdeka Award, Geni, Alchetron  

This article was first published on 21st December 2020, and updated by Yusintha on 4th March 2024.