Zaleha Ismail

Zaleha binti Ismail (Jawi: صالحة بنت اسماعيل; 18 May 1936 – 14 November 2020) was a Malaysian politician and among the women's leaders in Malaysia. She served as Minister of National Unity and Community Development from 1995 to 1999. Her friendly attitude led many to enjoy it.

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Ismail is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Zaleha. The Arabic-derived word "bin" or "binti"/"binte", if used, means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Datin Paduka Seri Hajah
Zaleha Ismail
PSM SSSA DPMS SMS KMN
صالحة اسماعيل‎
Ministerial roles
1986–1987Parliamentary Secretary of Lands and Regional Development
1987–1995Deputy Minister of Transport
1995–1999Minister of National Unity and Community Development
Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
1982–2004Barisan Nasional
Faction represented in Selangor State Legislative Assembly
1978–1982Barisan Nasional
Personal details
Born(1936-05-18)18 May 1936
Kuala Langat, Selangor, Federated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died14 November 2020(2020-11-14) (aged 84)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Resting placeTaman Ibukota Muslim Cemetery, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur
CitizenshipMalaysian
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Other political
affiliations		Barisan Nasional (BN)
Perikatan Nasional (PN)
Muafakat Nasional (MN)
Alma materUniversity of Malaya
OccupationPolitician

Background

She was born in Kuala Langat, Selangor. She attended the Sungai Pelek Malay School and University of Malaya – Bachelor of Arts (Economics) in 1961.

Career

At Radio Malaya[1] (1962–1968) she worked as a Plan Assistant, then Manager of the English Service Plan. Additionally, she was a part-time Lecturer and Tutor at University of Malaya, while in 1968–1978 she became the Encyclopedia Officer in Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and subsequently the Deputy Head of Textbook Division.

Zaleha Ismail as well as Vice President of MUBARAK, was a former Malaysian MP and President of the Malaysian Council for Children Welfare, Women's Association of the ASEAN Association of Women, and President of the National Council of Women's Organizations. She was also equally influential regionally and internationally, as she was elected President of the Association of Women's Organizations (ACWO) in 1986 until 1988.

Zaleha continued to serve at ACWO even after she supported the president in various capacities such as vice president, Honorary Treasurer, and general secretary before being re-elected to lead ACWO as president in 1998 to 2000. She was also the Chairperson of the Population and Development Board Country Family in Malaysia. Zaleha Ismail was the Chairperson of Global Peace Foundation Malaysia[2] and Spark Capital Development Berhad.

Politics

In 1968 she became a regular member of UMNO and eventually the UMNO Supreme Council of Malaysia. She was involved in politics for 30 years. She started contesting the 1978 general election for the Permatang seat of Selangor State Legislative Assembly. She was Member of Parliament for Tanjong Karang (1982–1986) and Selayang (1986–1995) afterward. She continued to be Deputy Transport Minister from 1987 to 1995 when she became a member of parliament for Gombak (1995–2004). The peak of her career came as she was appointed by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to take on the National Unity & Ministry of Social Development as Minister, from 1995 to 1999. In Malaysia's 1999 general election, she defeated Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Hatta Ramli with a majority of 803 votes.

Death

On 14 November 2020, Zaleha Ismail died of several health complications at 8.15 pm at Tawakkal Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. She was 84 years old.[3]

Election results
Selangor State Legislative Assembly
Year Constituency Government Votes Pct Opposition Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1978 N10 Permatang Zaleha Ismail (UMNO) 4,865 60.45% Norhadi Hasan Ali (PAS) 1,057 13.13% N/A 2,739 N/A
Supian Sirman (IND) 2,126 26.42%
Parliament of Malaysia[4]
Year Constituency Government Votes Pct Opposition Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1982 P074 Tanjong Karang, Selangor Zaleha Ismail (UMNO) 16,396 75.44% Abd Rahim Awang (PAS) 5,337 24.56% 22,856 11,059 68.63%
1986 P087 Selayang, Selangor Zaleha Ismail (UMNO) 40,681 81.54% Talib Bakti (PAS) 9,209 18.46% 52,160 31,472 67.10%
1990 Zaleha Ismail (UMNO) 51,062 71.94% Lee Yee Lian (DAP) 19,920 28.06% 73,482 31,142 73.86%
1995 P091 Gombak, Selangor Zaleha Ismail (UMNO) 38,763 83.10% Ismail Nahu (PAS) 7,885 16.90% 47,973 30,878 70.93%
1999 Zaleha Ismail (UMNO) 28,113 50.72% Mohd Hatta Ramli (PAS) 27,310 49.28% 56,074 803 75.83%

Honours

She was awarded the Seri Mahkota Selangor Star, Bintang Kesatria Mangku Negara and Datuk Paduka Mahkota Selangor in 1979. Among the recent awards was the Global Peace Award in 2011, "Ibu Harmoni Tokoh" Award 2013 and Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor for Women leading in Amal.

Honours of Malaysia

References
  1. Zaleha Ismail from a radio DJ to a minister
  2. A Kaleidoscope of Everyday Mandelas’: Tan Sri Datin Paduka Seri Hjh Zaleha Binti Ismail
  3. "Former national unity community development minister Zaleha Ismail dies". The Star Online. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  4. "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 June 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  5. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
  6. "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
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