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Fatimah HashimMalaysian politician and statesman
Date of Birth: 25.12.1924
Country:  Malaysia |
Content:
- Education and Early Career
- Entry into Politics
- Independence and Parliamentary Career
- Minister of Welfare
- Later Political Career
- Family
- Mohamed Shah Abdul Kadir (son), director of McDonald's Malaysia
- Anak Ali Abdul Kadir (son, born 1950), audit firm director
- Order of Loyalty to the Crown (2003)
Datin Paduka Hajjah Roziah Binti Hashim: A Trailblazing Politician and Statesman
Born in Kampung Parit Kerom, Muar, Johor, Malaysia on August 25, 1923, Datin Paduka Hajjah Roziah Binti Hashim was the daughter of Hashem Ahmad and Salma Abdullah. She was a pioneer in Malaysian politics, becoming the country's first female minister in 1969.
Education and Early Career
Hashim received her early education at Malay schools in Parit Kerom and Mersing. She later attended evening classes to learn English and worked as a school teacher.
Entry into Politics
Hashim joined the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in 1947 and quickly rose through the ranks. She served as treasurer and secretary of the Johor branch of the party's women organization. In 1956, she moved to Perak and became active in the state government, eventually becoming the head of UMNO's Women Organization in Perak and later for the entire country (1956-1972). Her political acumen led to her appointment as one of UMNO's deputy chairmen, as well as a member of the Supreme Executive Council, the Finance Committee, and the Political Committee.
Independence and Parliamentary Career
Hashim was present at the historic Merdeka Stadium on August 31, 1957, when Malaya declared independence. She contested and won the Jitra-Padang Terap parliamentary seat in the 1959 general election, becoming the first woman to win an electoral contest in the country. She successfully defended her seat twice in subsequent elections.
Minister of Welfare
From 1969 to 1973, Hashim served as Minister of Welfare, becoming the first woman minister in the Malaysian government. She initiated the establishment of National Women's Day on August 25 and founded the National Council of Women's Organizations in 1962, which she chaired until 1989.
Later Political Career
Hashim visited Moscow in 1972 at the invitation of the Soviet Women's Committee and met with its leadership. She continued to be an active political figure until her retirement in 1978.
Family
Hashim married Abdul Kadir Yusuf (1915-1992), who served as Attorney General (1963-1968) and Minister of Justice (1974-1978). They had six children:
Mariam Abdul Kadir (daughter), director-general of the National Library of Malaysia (1989-1994)
Mohamed Shah Abdul Kadir (son), director of McDonald's Malaysia
Khalid Abdul Kadir (son, born 1948), emeritus professor at the National University of Malaysia
Anak Ali Abdul Kadir (son, born 1950), audit firm director
Abdul Karim Abdul Kadir (son), businessmanFaridah Abdul Kadir (daughter), bank consultant
Honors and Legacy
Order of the Defender of the Realm (1958)
Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Malaya (1975)
Honorary Doctor of Education from the University of Technology Malaysia (2000)
Order of Loyalty to the Crown (2003)
Merdeka Award for Independence (2009)Hashim passed away on November 28, 2017, at the age of 94. She was buried at the Heroes' Cemetery near the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur, the only woman to receive such an honor. Her legacy lives on as a symbol of the empowerment and advancement of women in Malaysian society.
