Aishah binti Ghani ( ms, عائشة بنت غاني, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; 15 December 1923 – 19 April 2013) was a

Malaysian Malaysian may refer to: * Something from or related to Malaysia, a country in Southeast Asia * Malaysian Malay, a dialect of Malay language spoken mainly in Malaysia * Malaysian people, people who are identified with the country of Malaysia regard ...

politician who served as

Minister of Social Welfare Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...

from 1973 to 1984 and Head of Wanita UMNO women's Malaysia from 1972 to 1984.

Background

Born in Kampung Sungai Serai,

Hulu Langat, Selangor Hulu Langat District is a district located in the southeastern corner of Selangor, between Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan. It is bordered by the state of Pahang to the east and north, Gombak district to the north-west, Federal Territory of Kua ...

, Aishah was a

Minangkabau Minangkabau may refer to: * Minangkabau culture, culture of the Minangkabau people * Minangkabau Culture Documentation and Information Center * Minangkabau Express, an airport rail link service serving Minangkabau International Airport (''see below' ...

descent from Sijunjung,

West Sumatra West Sumatra ( id, Sumatra Barat) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is located on the west coast of the island of Sumatra and includes the Mentawai Islands off that coast. The province has an area of , with a population of 5, ...

. She acquired education early in Bukit Raya Malay School, Cheras, Selangor. Ghani attended secondary school at the ''Diniyah Putri'' school in

Padang Panjang ) , image_skyline = PDIKM Padangpanjang.jpg , imagesize = 300px , image_caption = A traditional Minangkabau '' rumah gadang'' ("big house") in Padang Panjang , image_flag = , image_seal = , ima ...

, West Sumatra, Indonesia, from 1936 to 1939. The school had been founded by

Rahmah el Yunusiyah Rahmah el Yunusiyah ( Van Ophuijsen Spelling Rahmah el Joenoesijah, 26 October 1900 – 26 February 1969) was a Dutch East Indies and Indonesian politician, educator, and activist for women's education. Born into a prominent family of Islamic sc ...

in 1923. In the year 1940 until 1943, she joined the College of Islamic Universities in

Padang Padang () is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of West Sumatra. With a Census population of 1,015,000 as of 2022, it is the 16th most populous city in Indonesia and the most populous city on the west coast of Sumatra. Th ...

, West Sumatra, and then went to

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

in April 1955 and graduated journalism from Regent Street Polytechnic in London in December 1958.

Political career

Aishah's involvement in politics began as soon as the

Malay Nationalist Party Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM), also known as the Malay Nationalist Party, was founded on 17 October 1945 in Ipoh, Perak. The party was the first Malay political party formed after the Japanese occupation of Malaya. The main goal of the ...

(PKMM) was founded in 1945, and she became a member of the women's wing and thus led the so-called Conscious Women's Front (AWAS). At that time, she also worked as a journalist Pelita Malaya, PKMM official tongue. Aisha out of AWAS in 1946 (AWAS then banned by the government in 1948) and joined the rally which demanded independence at the Sultan Sulaiman Club, Kuala Lumpur, in March the same year. She joined Umno New Village in 1949 and was appointed as secretary. Aishah on her return from her studies in London in 1959, worked as a journalist again, this time for the

Berita Harian ''BH'' (renamed on 2 July 2012; formerly known as ''Berita Harian'') is a Malay-language daily newspaper published in Malaysia owned by the New Straits Times Press. It was first published on 1 July 1957 as the first mainstream newspaper in M ...

, as well as the editor in Group Releases New Straits Times. She put both her office in 1963 when she became a member of the UMNO Supreme Council and vice-chairman of Wanita Umno. On 13 September 1962, she was appointed the Senator and assented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. She was the first woman in Malaysia to be a senator and was Malaysia's first woman representative to the General Assembly of the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

(UN). From 1967 to 1972, Aisha was Malaysia's representative to the United Nations Conference on the Status of Women Commission. She also served as Secretary of State for Wanita Umno Selangor between 1960 and 1972. In 1972, Aishah was appointed the Chief of UMNO Wanita Malaysia, an organisation which she headed for 12 years until 1984. On 1 March 1973, she was appointed as Minister of Social Welfare after the retirement of

Fatimah Hashim Tun Fatimah binti Hashim ( ms, فاطمة بنت هاشم, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; 25 December 1924 – 9 January 2010) was a Malaysian freedom fighter who later served as a minister in the Malaysian cabinet. Along with her h ...

and held this position for 11 years before ending her service in 1984. During her tenure as Minister of General Welfare, she launched the Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (National Welfare Foundation) (YKN), an organisation that is still functioning today. Aishah was Permanent Chairman of UMNO Wanita Malaysia from 1986 until 2013.

After career

After her political career, Aishah became as a chairman of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation ( Kraftangan Malaysia) from 1985 until 1997. She was a member of the Tun Abdul Razak Foundation, and Chairman of the Centre for Protection of Women Darsaadah. Also, she is Chairman of the Koperasi Wanita Jaya Murni Berhad since its inception in 1975. As if this was not enough, Aishah also devoted her time in the field of business, and was the chairman and / or director for at least seven private limited companies.

Death

Aishah died on 19 April 2013 at the age of 90. She was buried at

Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery The Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery is a cemetery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is located at Damansara near Taman Tun Dr Ismail. This cemetery can be seen from the Damansara Link of the Sprint Expressway. It is the final resting place of many prom ...

Kuala Lumpur , anthem = '' Maju dan Sejahtera'' , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia , pushpin_map_caption = , coordinates = , su ...

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

* : **

Recipient of the Malaysian Commemorative Medal (Silver) (PPM) (1965) ** Companion of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm ( ms, Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace o ...

(JMN) (1966) ** Commander of the

(PMN) – Tan Sri (1985) * : ** MY-SEL Order of the Crown of Selangor - Knight Commander - DPMS

Knight Commander of the

Order of the Crown of Selangor The Most Illustrious Order of the Crown of Selangor (Bahasa Melayu: ''Darjah Kebesaran Mahkota Selangor Yang Amat Mulia'') is an order awarded by Sultan of Selangor as a reward for general services to the sultan and state of Selangor. It was fou ...

(DPMS) – Datin Paduka (1977) ** MY-SEL Order of the Crown of Selangor - Knight Grand Commander - SPMS

Knight Grand Commander of the

(SPMS) – Datin Paduka Seri (1999) * : ** MY-SAB Order of Kinabalu - ASDK-ADK-BSK-BK

Member of the

Order of Kinabalu The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu (Malay: ''Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Kinabalu'') is the only order conferred by the Governor of Sabah, Malaysia. Background The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu is established by virtue of Section 3(a) of State Honou ...

(ADK) (1971)

Awards and recognitions

Honours

* 1966 : Johan Mangku Negara (J.M.N.) by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong * 1977 : Dato' Paduka Mahkota Selangor Second Class (DPMS) which carries the title 'Datin Paduka' by the Sultan of Selangor * 1985 : Panglima Mangku Negara (P.M.N.) which carries the title ''Tan Sri'' by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong * 1986 : Honorary Doctorate of Law by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) * 1999 : Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor First Class (SPMS) which carries the title 'Datin Paduka Seri' by the Sultan of Selangor * 2002 : Honorary Doctorate in Political Science by the National University of Malaysia (UKM).

Places named after her

Several places were named after her, including: * Kolej Tan Sri Aishah Ghani, a residential college at

Universiti Malaysia Perlis Universiti Malaysia Perlis (abbreviated as UniMAP) is a Malaysian public institution of higher learning located in Perlis. It was previously known as Kolej Universiti Kejuruteraan Utara Malaysia (Northern Malaysia University College of Enginee ...

, Bintong, Perlis

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aishah Ghani 1923 births 2013 deaths People from Selangor Women members of the Dewan Rakyat Women members of the Dewan Negara Women in Kedah politics Malaysian people of Malay descent Malaysian people of Minangkabau descent Minangkabau people Malaysian Muslims United Malays National Organisation politicians Members of the Dewan Negara Members of the Dewan Rakyat Malaysian journalists Malaysian women journalists Malaysian editors Government ministers of Malaysia Permanent Representatives of Malaysia to the United Nations Malaysian corporate directors Malaysian chairpersons of corporations Women government ministers of Malaysia 20th-century Malaysian women politicians 20th-century Malaysian politicians Malaysian women diplomats Companions of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Malaysian women ambassadors British Malaya expatriates in the Dutch East Indies Malaysian expatriates in the United Kingdom Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor Knights Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor