National advocate of women affairs, Tan Sri Aishah Ghani died due to old age at the Gleneagles Hospital in Kuala Lumpur today. She was 90 years old.
Born in 1923 at Kampung Sungai Serai, Hulu Langat in Selangor, this iron-willed lady went through a colourful life following her broad involvements in politics, journalism and struggle for women.
She received her early education at Sekolah Melayu Bukit Raya, Cheras, furthering her studies at Sekolah Arab Diniah Puteri, Sumatera from 1936 to 1939 followed by Kolej Latihan Guru Tinggi, Padang in 1940, where she started to know about politics in the light of Malaya being colonised at that time.
On her return to Malaya in 1943, Aishah felt the bitterness of Japanese oppression, when Malaya was invaded by Japan, and vowed to fight for independence by joining the Malayan Malay National Organisation (PKMM) which was set up at the end of 1945.
At PKMM, she became a journalist with Pelita Malaya, the official newspaper of PKMM, with the aim of encouraging women to join politics other than creating awareness among them about independence.
Aishah left PKMM after several months, as she did not agree with the Melayu Raya Concept which the party advocated, despite being promoted as the head of PKMM's Angkatan Wanita Sedar.
She then married Abdul Aziz Abu Hassan and created history when she became the first woman announcer at Radio Malaya, which had just been set up.
They had four children, namely, Datuk Astamam, Zarim, Shairudin dan Mariati.
Her determination for national independence had never wavered and she returned to politics by joining Pasar Pudu Umno branch before becoming a member at Umno Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur in 1949.
Her outspokenness and courage in upholding women issues enabled Aishah to be picked as a permanent member of Umno's Kaum Ibu at Umno Malaya's general conference, Penang in 1950. She held the post until 1954.
But, she still wanted to deepen her knowledge in journalism and politics. Towards this end, she continued her studies at Regent Street Polytechnic in England on April 1955.
Upon her return in 1959, she became active again in the Kuala Lumpur Umno division and also became a journalist with Berita Harian.
In the first general election in 1959, Aishah contested the Setapak Parliamentary seat as a candidate for Alliance but lost.
The setback did not hinder her from being active in Umno and in 1960, and she was picked to be vice-chairman of Umno Malaya Kaum Ibu Movement.
She once again created history when she was appointed the first woman Senator in Dewan Negara in 1962.
Following the appointment, she resigned from her post in Berita Harian when picked as a member of the Umno supreme council in 1963 and was actively fighting for the rights and welfare of women including in education, economy and politics.
During the period, she also represented Malaysia as the first woman to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
From 1967 to 1972, Aishah was Malaysian representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
She was also the Selangor Umno Wanita Movement secretary between 1960 and 1972.
After 12 years of holding the post of Umno Kaum Ibu Movement vice-chief, Aishah was picked as the Umno Wanita Movement chief at the Umno Wanita delegates meeting in 1972.
Aishah's stature continued to be on the rise when she became the second woman to be appointed as Social Welfare Minister in March, 1973, replacing Tun Fatimah Hashim.
She was responsible for the setting up of the National Welfare Foundation, Rehabilitation Institute for Handicapped in Bangi and created a uniform Islamic Family Law during her tenure.She was a Cabinet minister for 11 years.
The following year, she was appointed as Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation chairman until 1997 and was appointed as Tun Abdul Razak Foundation committee member and chairman of Darsaadah Women Protection Centre.
Her struggle to uphold and protect women's right in the country led to the formation of PERTIWI which fought for the rights of Muslim women in 1967. She was also the chairman for Women Aid Centre and Koperasi Jaya Murni Wanita Berhad since their setting up in 1975.
Furthermore, she was also picked to represent Malaysia in the Afro-Asian Group Unity Committee in Algiers, Algeria and the Asian Women Seminar in Berlin and the Conference of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations.
Her contributions and deeds were also appreciated when she was also named Selangor Women Icon 1996, Selangor Senior Citizen Icon 2002, Maal Hijrah Icon for Selangor 2002, received Selangor Independence Fighter Award and Mutiara Pertiwi Award from Puteri UMNO.
Aishah also wrote her memoir titled "Aishah Ghani Memoir of a Fighter' in 1992.
Bernama
Fri Apr 19 2013
AWANI 7:45 [27/04/2024] - Siasatan sama ada Tun M salah guna kuasa | Jangkaan persaingan sengit | FFC umum tangguh misi | Mesyuarat khas dua hari
#AWANI745 malam ini bersama Dzulfitri Yusof;
1. Mokhzani dan Mirzan nafi disiasat SPRM
2. Pertandingan empat penjuru, PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
3. Freedom Flotilla To Gaza ditangguh, delegasi dunia pulang
4. Mesyuarat Khas WEF berlangsung di Arab Saudi, ketika suhu geopolitik semakin panas
1. Mokhzani dan Mirzan nafi disiasat SPRM
2. Pertandingan empat penjuru, PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
3. Freedom Flotilla To Gaza ditangguh, delegasi dunia pulang
4. Mesyuarat Khas WEF berlangsung di Arab Saudi, ketika suhu geopolitik semakin panas
Budak lima tahun cedera jatuh dari tingkat tiga flat
Seorang kanak-kanak perempuan berusia lima tahun cedera selepas dipercayai terjatuh dari tingkat tiga rumahnya di Flat Taman College Height pada Sabtu.
AWANI Ringkas: Kasino di Forest City
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Hamas sudah terima maklum balas Israel mengenai cadangan gencatan senjata
Gesaan dari seluruh dunia untuk satu gencatan senjata semakin meningkat dengan serangan ke atas Gaza kini memasuki bulan ketujuh.
World Economic Forum berbeza dari kelaziman
Lazimnya World Economic Forum (WEF) akan berlangsung setiap musim sejuk di Davos, Switzerland, lokasi lahirnya forum berprestij dunia ini sejak lebih lebih dekad lalu.
Dalam tempoh kira-kira tiga bulan, WEF keluar dari kelazimannya dengan menganjurkan mesyuarat khas dua hari, 28 hingga 29 April 2024 di Riyadh, Arab Saudi.
Ia memberi isyarat, kepentingan kestabilan rantau Asia Barat atau timur tengah ini, bukan perakara main-main.
#AWANI745
Dalam tempoh kira-kira tiga bulan, WEF keluar dari kelazimannya dengan menganjurkan mesyuarat khas dua hari, 28 hingga 29 April 2024 di Riyadh, Arab Saudi.
Ia memberi isyarat, kepentingan kestabilan rantau Asia Barat atau timur tengah ini, bukan perakara main-main.
#AWANI745
Pemain Astro Kem Badminton 2024 berpeluang berlatih di bawah jurulatih BAM
Wan Wah menjelaskan pemain-pemain yang dipilih akan menjalani latihan intensif itu di Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Pengundi perlu pilih kestabilan - Fadillah
Fadillah berkata beliau percaya pengundi di kawasan tersebut, boleh membuat keputusan terbaik untuk menentukan calon paling layak untuk mewakili mereka.
Liga Parlimen Al-Quds: Malaysia gesa satu resolusi penyelesaian isu Palestin dapat dicapai
Malaysia antara lain mendesak Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) meluluskan resolusi menghantar tentera pengaman ke Palestin.
Palestin perlukan 14 tahun untuk dibangunkan semula
Jumlah besar runtuhan akibat serangan dilakukan tentera Israel di Semenanjung Gaza mengambil tempoh sekurang-kurangnya 14 tahun untuk dibersihkan.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
Delegasi seluruh dunia pulang selepas misi ditangguh
Delegasi seluruh dunia dan Malaysia dijangka bergerak pulang ke negara masing-masing dalam waktu terdekat.
Ia selepas Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) mengumumkan penangguhan terbaharu misi Break the Siege Freedom Flotilla to Gaza pada Sabtu.
Rakan setugas Syaff Shukri dan jurukamera Ab Uzza Ab Latiff ada perinciannya.
#AWANI745
Ia selepas Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) mengumumkan penangguhan terbaharu misi Break the Siege Freedom Flotilla to Gaza pada Sabtu.
Rakan setugas Syaff Shukri dan jurukamera Ab Uzza Ab Latiff ada perinciannya.
#AWANI745
Former England captain Wilkins dies aged 61
Former England captain Ray Wilkins died on Wednesday in a London hospital at the age of 61 following a heart attack.
Anggota perwakilan banjiri EGM MCA
Jumlah itu adalah 92 peratus daripada 2,385 anggota perwakilan dari seluruh negara.