Management

President

A NOTE FROM IKWAM PRESIDENT

Throughout my career as a woman leader and earlier on as a Cabinet Minister, I have been asked the question by many people “Why do you do this? What are you fighting for?” I choose to reply to that question not with an answer, but more typically with a gesture. Institut Kemajuan Wanita Malaysia (IKWAM) or Malaysian Women’s Advancement Institute was my earliest inspiration to promote and advance the cause of women in aspects of education, economy, capacity building, security, health, and gender equity whilst positively projecting and enhancing their roles/position in society via positive exposure and education. That inspiration lived to this day.

My wonderful mother who made a living for us selling nasi lemak never had a formal education and though my siblings and I have conflicting opinions about her aptitude for business, we unanimously agreed that her amazing way with people trumps whatever she lacked. My mother was her own natural brand and her loyal customers who kept coming back for more was her living testimony. My father complemented her industry with his personal attribute of being characteristically supportive, undemanding yet gently giving her the push and confidence she needed while doing all he can to make her happy. Even at that time my parents had exemplified the true meaning of partners in development. They did not have much of an education but they mutually decided and agreed that we, their children should have as much knowledge as we wanted.

I realised then I did not just want an education. I wanted my education to create something that I would be proud to claim as the ultimate expression of my vision of the future for my children, and their children’s children. By the same token I did not just want IKWAM to be significant. I wanted IKWAM to be instrumental in making others significant towards a better and greater Malaysia. This was not about my personal achievement as a woman – this was about empowering a greater Woman – the consummate Mother of the Nation. IKWAM needed to educate women so they may be empowered. And that is why I do this. That is why I am still here – fighting!

TAN SRI DATO SERI DR HJH SITI ZAHARAH BINTI HJ SULAIMAN
(P.S.M, S.S.A.P, S.I.M.P, D.S.A.P, D.I.M.P)

Deputy President

FROM THE DESK OF IKWAM DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Maya Angelou said it rightly of a woman’s disposition, “Every time you see me, I come as one but I stand as ten thousand”- because when one woman fights or speaks for herself, she does it for all her sisters, her brothers, her daughters, her sons, her mothers, and all her forefathers regardless of what social status, background, race or colour she hails from. And so when you educate a woman, you are not just improving her station, you are also actually educating a village, a community, an entire country...and yes the world!

Policies will bring about transformational change only if it comes with awareness raising and capacity building. Stability, progress and sustainability of a nation all have its roots in the education of its people and women must not wait for others to enhance their status. Women must be bold and willing to invest in themselves to improve their lives, their situation and to fundamentally maximise their participation in development initiatives. Our men as partners, as fathers, as leaders of households, nations and governments impact the lives of women greatly. Our women though diligent, steadfast and strong intrinsically, at times still needed to be hand-held, reassured and emboldened. There is a need for power sharing and a compromise of roles to create an environment conducive for shared responsibility and equal participation of genders.

I go a long way back with ex-Minister Tan Sri Dr Siti Zaharah first as her Senior Confidential Secretary and later as a full-fledged Political Secretary. The Ministerial portfolio of Women’s Affairs was our playground. We later graduated to the Ministry of National Unity & Community Development. I’ve always thought that my ambition and my dream of what I was going to do and be when I grow up was something private – like a dress or an outfit that I have stitched for myself in secret and just waiting for the time I would come out with it and wow everybody with my handiwork and the excellence of its final form. But Man proposes God disposes. We can plan but the Lord decides our steps. I have learned to be grateful for what I have and when I do that I found that we are provided for in such abundance by the Almighty. Allah has blessed us all with a multitude of talents and though I being human, am sometimes torn between what the world was saying to me and what I felt to be the truth for myself, my true calling to become the best expression of my person remains paramount. That is my wish for all my sisters wherever they may be.

“The life that Allah grants you is His gift to you but what you make of that life is your gift to Allah”

HAJAH ZURAIDAH MUSIB
Deputy President IKWAM