{{short description|Malaysian politician (born 1952)}} {{good article}} {{Malay name|Wan Azizah|Wan Ismail|note=on}} {{Use British English|date=July 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Yang Berhormat Dato' Seri Dr | name = Wan Azizah Wan Ismail | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=MYS|size=100%|DPPN|MP}} | native_name = {{nobold|وان عزيزة وان إسماعيل}} | image = Yoshiko Ishiba and Wan Azizah 20250110 1 (cropped).jpg | caption = Wan Azizah in 2025 | office = Spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia | term_label = Assumed role | prime_minister = Anwar Ibrahim | term_start = 24 November 2022 | predecessor = Muhaini Zainal Abidin | office1 = 12th Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia{{Efn|Serving simultaneously as the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.<ref name=":3" />}} | monarch1 = {{Plainlist| * Muhammad V (2018–2019) * Abdullah (2019–2020) }} | prime_minister1 = Mahathir Mohamad | term_start1 = 21 May 2018 | term_end1 = 25 February 2020 | predecessor1 = Ahmad Zahid Hamidi | successor1 = Ismail Sabri Yaakob | office2 = 11th and 13th Leader of the Opposition | monarch2 = {{Plainlist| * Abdul Halim (2015–2016) * Muhammad V (2016–2019) }} | prime_minister2 = Najib Razak | term_start2 = 18 May 2015 | term_end2 = 10 May 2018 | predecessor2 = Anwar Ibrahim | successor2 = Ahmad Zahid Hamidi | constituency2 = Permatang Pauh | monarch3 = Mizan Zainal Abidin | prime_minister3 = Abdullah Ahmad Badawi | term_start3 = 9 March 2008 | term_end3 = 28 August 2008 | predecessor3 = Lim Kit Siang | successor3 = Anwar Ibrahim | constituency3 = Permatang Pauh | office4 = Spouse of the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia | term_label4 = In role | term_start4 = 1 December 1993 | term_end4 = 2 September 1998 | prime_minister4 = Mahathir Mohamad | 1blankname4 = Deputy | 1namedata4 = Anwar Ibrahim | predecessor4 = Dayang Heryati Abdul Rahim | successor4 = Endon Mahmood {{Collapsed infobox section begin|cont=yes|Party leadership|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes | office5 = 1st President of the Pakatan Harapan | deputy5 = {{Plainlist| * Lim Guan Eng (2017–2022) * Anthony Loke (since 2022) * Mohamad Sabu * Wilfred Madius Tangau (2021–2023) * Ewon Benedick (2023–2025) }} | 1blankname5 = Chairman | 1namedata5 = {{Plainlist| * Mahathir Mohamad (2017–2020) * Anwar Ibrahim (since 2020) }} | term_start5 = 14 July 2017 | predecessor5 = ''Position established'' | office6 = 1st President of the People's Justice Party | deputy6 = {{Plainlist| * Chandra Muzaffar (1999–2001) * Syed Husin Ali (2003–2010) * Azmin Ali (2010–2018) }} | term_start6 = 4 April 1999 | term_end6 = 17 November 2018 | predecessor6 = ''Position established'' | successor6 = Anwar Ibrahim {{Collapsed infobox section end}}}} {{Collapsed infobox section begin|cont=yes|Parliamentary offices|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes | constituency_MP7 = Bandar Tun Razak | parliament7 = Malaysian | term_start7 = 19 November 2022 | term_end7 = | majority7 = 9,817 (2022) | predecessor7 = Kamaruddin Jaafar | constituency_MP8 = Pandan | parliament8 = Malaysian | term_start8 = 9 May 2018 | term_end8 = 19 November 2022 | predecessor8 = Rafizi Ramli | successor8 = Rafizi Ramli | majority8 = 52,543 (2018) | constituency_MP9 = Permatang Pauh | parliament9 = Malaysian | term_start9 = 7 May 2015 | term_end9 = 9 May 2018 | predecessor9 = Anwar Ibrahim | successor9 = Nurul Izzah Anwar | majority9 = 8,841 (2015) | term_start10 = 29 November 1999 | term_end10 = 31 July 2008 | predecessor10 = Anwar Ibrahim | successor10 = Anwar Ibrahim | majority10 = {{Plainlist| * 9,077 (1999) * 590 (2004) * 13,388 (2008) }} | constituency_AM11 = Kajang | assembly11 = Selangor State Legislative | term_start11 = 7 April 2014 | term_end11 = 9 May 2018 | predecessor11 = Lee Chin Cheh | successor11 = Hee Loy Sian | majority11 = 5,379 (2014) {{Collapsed infobox section end}}}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|12|3|df=yes}} | birth_place = Colony of Singapore | citizenship = Malaysia | party = {{Plainlist| * Keadilan (1999–2003) * People's Justice Party (2003–present) }} | spouse = {{marriage|Anwar Ibrahim|1980}} | children = 6, including Nurul Izzah | alma_mater = Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland | occupation = {{Hlist|Politician|ophthalmologist}} | relations = {{Interlanguage link|Ibrahim Abdul Rahman|ms|Ibrahim Abdul Rahman}} (father-in-law) | signature = Signature of Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.svg }}
'''Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail'''{{Efn|{{langx|ms-Arab|وان عزيزة وان إسماعيل|label=Jawi}}}} (born 3 December 1952) is a Malaysian politician who served as the spouse of the prime minister of Malaysia as the wife of Anwar Ibrahim. A member of the People's Justice Party, she served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Bandar Tun Razak since 2022. She is the first woman to serve as deputy prime minister of Malaysia, a position she held from 2018 to 2020.
Born in the Colony of Singapore, Wan Azizah graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She practised medicine, specialised in ophthalmology, and served as a government doctor for 14 years before leaving in 1993. Entering politics in 1998 after her husband's dismissal as the 7th deputy prime minister of Malaysia, she led the {{Lang|ms|Reformasi}} movement and founded the National Justice Party (PKN), later People's Justice Party (PKR), becoming the second woman to lead a parliamentary party in Malaysia. She won the Permatang Pauh seat in 1999, retained it in 2004, and briefly stepped aside in 2008 for her husband's return, but continued to lead PKR as it grew into an opposition force.
Wan Azizah became Malaysia's first female leader of the Opposition in April 2008, but resigned later that year to allow her husband to succeed her. During her time in opposition, she spoke out on human rights issues, and was active in domestic debates on Malay supremacy, governance, and land issues. She continued her political career, winning the Kajang by-election in 2014 and later reclaiming Permatang Pauh in 2015. She won the Pandan seat in 2018 and became Malaysia's first female deputy prime minister, while also serving as minister of women, family and community development. She left office during the 2020 political crisis but returned to the Dewan Rakyat in 2022 after winning the Bandar Tun Razak seat. Following her husband's appointment as prime minister that year, she became the spouse of the prime minister.
==Early life and education== Wan Azizah was born on 3 December 1952 in Singapore.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sira Habibu |first1= |last2=Rahimy Rahim |first2= |date=2014-09-03 |title=Party lists PKR president and deputy for Selangor MB post |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/09/03/PAS-to-submit-two-names-Party-lists-PKR-president-and-deputy-for-Selangor-MB-post/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905153956/http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/09/03/PAS-to-submit-two-names-Party-lists-PKR-president-and-deputy-for-Selangor-MB-post/ |archive-date=2014-09-05 |access-date=2014-09-03 |newspaper=The Star |location=}}</ref> Her father was Wan Ismail Wan Mahmood, and her mother, Mariah Khamis, raised her along with her three sisters and one brother.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Datuk Dr Wan Ismail Wan Mahmud laid to rest in Ampang |url=https://bernama.com/en/news.php/?id=1798147 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211183142/https://bernama.com/en/news.php/?id=1798147 |archive-date=2019-12-11 |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=bernama.com}}</ref> She is of Peranakan Chinese descent and was raised as a Malay Muslim.<ref>{{cite news |last=Healy |first=Tim |author2=Oorjitham |first2=Santha |date=2000-11-30 |title=Readying for Elections? |url=http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/99/0604/nat2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531235614/http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/99/0604/nat2.html |archive-date=2018-05-31 |access-date=2018-05-11 |work=Asiaweek}}</ref> She began her education at St. Nicholas Convent School before continuing her secondary studies at Tunku Kurshiah College.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Kayla |last2=Lay |first2=Belmont |date=2018-05-21 |title=Wan Azizah: Genial eye doctor, veteran opposition figure & M'sia deputy prime minister |url=https://mothership.sg/2018/05/wan-azizah-facts/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226190131/https://mothership.sg/2018/05/wan-azizah-facts/ |archive-date=2021-02-26 |access-date=2025-07-27 |website=Mothership }}</ref> She went on to study medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Ooi |first=Keat Gin |author-link=Keat Gin Ooi |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/The_A_to_Z_of_Malaysia/YVViEJmN99kC? |title=The A to Z of Malaysia |date= |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4616-7199-2 |pages=322–323 |language=en}}</ref> where she received a gold medal in obstetrics and gynaecology.<ref>{{cite news |author=Bissme S. |date=14 May 2017 |title=Wan Azizah – a pillar of strength |url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2017/05/15/wan-azizah-%E2%80%93-pillar-strength |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510013813/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2017/05/15/wan-azizah-%E2%80%93-pillar-strength |archive-date=10 May 2018 |access-date=10 May 2018 |work=The Sun Daily}}</ref>
Wan Azizah established a medical practice where she primarily treated women,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Esposito |first=John L. |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Makers_of_Contemporary_Islam/eBqEBOXrEJgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Wan+Azizah+medical&pg=PA190&printsec=frontcover |title=Makers of Contemporary Islam |last2=Voll |first2=John Obert |date= |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-19-514127-6 |pages=190 }}</ref> later specialising in ophthalmology.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Norazalina |date=2021-07-16 |title=Doktor Mata Fasih Bahasa Inggeris & Hantar Anak-Anak Ke Sekolah Kebangsaan, Kesederhanaan DS Dr Wan Azizah Cukup Menawan! |url=https://www.nona.my/doktor-mata-fasih-bahasa-inggeris-hantar-anak-anak-ke-sekolah-kebangsaan-kesederhanaan-ds-dr-wan-azizah-cukup-menawan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114090818/https://www.nona.my/doktor-mata-fasih-bahasa-inggeris-hantar-anak-anak-ke-sekolah-kebangsaan-kesederhanaan-ds-dr-wan-azizah-cukup-menawan/ |archive-date=2024-11-14 |access-date=2021-07-20 |website=Nona |language=ms}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=A’qilah Riduan Jaafar |first= |last2=Noor Hafizah Ahmad |date=2025-04-26 |title=Dr Wan Azizah awarded Lifetime Achievement Award in Ophthalmology |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/1207703/dr-wan-azizah-awarded-lifetime-achievement-award-ophthalmology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505001939/https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/04/1207703/dr-wan-azizah-awarded-lifetime-achievement-award-ophthalmology#google_vignette |archive-date=2025-05-05 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=New Straits Times }}</ref> She served as a government doctor for 14 years before resigning in 1993.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pooi |first=Koon Chong |last2=Schneider |first2=Jodi |date=2018-08-08 |title=Malaysia Finds Champion for 'Invisible' Women in Deputy Premier |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2018-08-08/malaysia-finds-champion-for-invisible-women-in-deputy-premier?embedded-checkout=true |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250613095954/https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2018-08-08/malaysia-finds-champion-for-invisible-women-in-deputy-premier |archive-date=2025-06-13 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Bloomberg}}</ref> That same year, she shifted from her medical career to roles more closely associated with political life, taking on honorary positions, hosting visiting dignitaries,<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Clery |first=Conor |author-link=Conor O'Clery |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/May_You_Live_in_Interesting_Times/ZZ8tDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Wan+Azizah+1993&pg=PT251&printsec=frontcover |title=May You Live in Interesting Times |date= |publisher=Poolbeg Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-84223-325-2 }}</ref> and becoming a patron of the National Cancer Council.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Suh |first=Sangwon |last2=Ranawana |first2=Arjuna |date=2000-01-07 |title=A Woman of Grace |url=http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/99/1231/year.azizah.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050115010845/http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/99/1231/year.azizah.html |archive-date=2005-01-15 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Asiaweek}}</ref>
== Early political career == Wan Azizah entered politics in September 1998 following the dismissal and arrest of her husband Anwar Ibrahim on charges of sodomy and corruption.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/After_the_Asian_Crisis/ElSEDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=anwar+ibrahim+1998&pg=PA52&printsec=frontcover |title=After the Asian Crisis: Perspectives on Global Politics and Economics |date= |publisher=Macmillan Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-333-98298-3 |editor-last=Weber |editor-first=Maria |pages=52 }}</ref> The event drew widespread domestic and international criticism and led her to assume leadership of the {{Lang|ms|Reformasi}} movement.{{Efn|Reformasi was a political movement that evolved into a wider push for democracy, human rights, and political reform in Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Discourses_Agency_and_Identity_in_Malays/ofRJEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=reformasi+malaysia&pg=PA260&printsec=frontcover |title=Discourses, Agency and Identity in Malaysia: Critical Perspectives |date=2021-10-23 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-981-334-568-3 |editor-last=Zawawi Ibrahim |pages=260 |language=en |eissn=2364-8260 |editor-last2=Richards |editor-first2=Gareth |editor-last3=King |editor-first3=Victor T.}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite news |date=2005-08-04 |title=Apology ends Anwar's suit over beating |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/03/world/asia/03iht-malaysia.html |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127084203/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/04/world/asia/apology-ends-anwars-suit-over-beating.html |archive-date=2024-11-27 |access-date=2025-07-28 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> She founded the Social Justice Movement,<ref name=":5" /> later named the National Justice Party (PKN) in April 1999.<ref name=":4" /> She was the second woman in Malaysia to lead a political party<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zaireeni Azmi |url=https://www.alignplatform.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/align-malaysiacountry-report-may24-final-v2.pdf |title=Men as allies in shaping a gender equitable society: perspectives from Malaysia |last2=Noraida Endut |last3=Nor Hafizah Selamat |last4=Muhammad Rahimi Hasan |publisher=Align Platform |year=2024 |page=16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210073827/https://www.alignplatform.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/align-malaysiacountry-report-may24-final-v2.pdf |archive-date=2025-02-10}}</ref> and the first to do so with parliamentary representation after winning the Permatang Pauh seat with a 9,077-vote majority that year.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Nurul Izzah Anwar |first= |date=2024-03-04 |title=Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail: Dignity & Courage Under Fire |url=https://voiceofasean.com/features/datuk-seri-dr-wan-azizah-wan-ismail-dignity-courage-under-fire/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218100944/https://voiceofasean.com/features/datuk-seri-dr-wan-azizah-wan-ismail-dignity-courage-under-fire/ |archive-date=2025-02-18 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Voice of ASIA }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-04-04 |title=BN retains two-thirds majority |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/1465 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609095138/https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/1465#google_vignette |archive-date=2021-06-09 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref>
She promoted reform and attempted to unite opposition forces to confront Mahathir's government, although she was unsuccessful in preventing his party from retaining a supermajority in the 1999 general election.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Aspinall |first=Edward |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Opposing_Suharto/n_DqinpeaLMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Wan+Azizah+opposition&pg=PA249&printsec=frontcover |title=Opposing Suharto: Compromise, Resistance, and Regime Change in Indonesia |date= |publisher=Stanford University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-8047-4844-5 |pages=249 }}</ref> Wan Azizah rejected the idea of Malay unity as the central political issue following the election. Instead, she argued that Malay support had shifted to the opposition due to disillusionment with leadership, abuses of power, corruption, police brutality, mismanagement of the economy, and a judiciary that was seen to lack independence.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nathan |first=K. S. |date= |year=2002 |title=Malaysia: 11 September and the Politics of Incumbency |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Southeast_Asian_Affairs_2002/aZ8qP3iwKOQC? |journal=Southeast Asian Affairs 2002 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |pages=162 |isbn=978-981-230-160-4}}</ref>
In August 2003, PKN merged with the Malaysian People's Party (PRM) to become the People's Justice Party (PKR),<ref name=":4" /> with Wan Azizah as president.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Bertrand |first=Jacques |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Political_Change_in_Southeast_Asia/z0WW1ui4uWMC? |title=Political Change in Southeast Asia |date= |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-521-88377-1 |pages=105 }}</ref> She contested the 2004 general election on the ticket of the new party and retained the Permatang Pauh seat by a margin of 590 votes and became the PKR's sole representative in Parliament.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-05-02 |title=#GE13* Wan Azizah warns of electoral fraud on polling day |url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/article/ge13-wan-azizah-warns-electoral-fraud-polling-day |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=The Edge}}</ref> In 2007, Wan Azizah indicated her readiness to vacate the party presidency when Anwar announced his intention to return to politics despite being legally barred.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2007-03-04 |title=Wan Azizah agrees to make way for Anwar |url=http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=47936 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234807/http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=47936 |archive-date=2007-09-26 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Daily Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-03-14 |title=Malaysia: Anwar Ibrahim to make political comeback |url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac/programs/s1869902.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070920035702/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/asiapac/programs/s1869902.htm |archive-date=2007-09-20 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Radio Australia |language=}}</ref> She also relinquished the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat, allowing Anwar, running as a PKR candidate, to win the by-election.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-08-26 |title=Website says Anwar wins Malaysia vote with big majority |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKKLR31057520080826 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828193153/http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKKLR31057520080826 |archive-date=2008-08-28 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Reuters}}</ref> Under her continued leadership, the PKR won 31 seats in the 2008 general election,<ref name=":6" /> during which she defended her Permatang Pauh seat with a majority of 13,388 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-31 |title=PKR playing musical chairs in Permatang Pauh |url=https://themalaysianreserve.com/2017/03/31/pkr-playing-musical-chairs-in-permatang-pauh/ |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=The Malaysian Reserve }}</ref>
== Leader of the Opposition == On 30 April 2008, Wan Azizah became the first woman to hold the post of Leader of the Opposition.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Yuk Peng |last2=Loh |first2=Foon Fong |date=2008-03-20 |title=PKR president poised to make history as first woman Opposition Leader |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/3/20/nation/20702955&sec=nation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521101825/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2008%2F3%2F20%2Fnation%2F20702955&sec=nation |archive-date=2011-05-21 |access-date=2025-07-28 |work=The Star}}</ref> Her position was acknowledged during coalition negotiations by the Malaysian United Indigenous Party, led by Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin. This recognition helped sustain the PKR's leadership role within the opposition despite internal divisions and uncertainty over succession.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chai |first=James |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Party_of_Hardship_The_Evolution_of_Malay/8TQVEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Wan+Azizah+opposition&pg=PA26&printsec=frontcover |title=Party of Hardship: The Evolution of Malaysia's Parti Keadilan Rakyat |date= |publisher=ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute |year=2024 |isbn=978-981-5203-62-2 |pages=26 }}</ref> That same year, Wan Azizah sent a letter to Myanmar's ambassador expressing concern over the military junta's decision to proceed with a constitutional referendum despite the ongoing Cyclone Nargis crisis. She submitted a motion urging Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to call for a postponement of the vote, to prioritise relief efforts and to press the regime to grant greater access to aid workers. She also called on the Malaysian government to use its influence to advocate for a delay, though the motion was rejected on the grounds of Malaysia's policy of neutrality and noninterference.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rüland |first=Anchalee |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Norms_in_Conflict/I8IxEAAAQBAJ? |title=Norms in Conflict: Southeast Asia's Response to Human Rights Violations in Myanmar |date= |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |year=2022 |isbn=978-0-8131-8372-5 |pages=147 }}</ref> Her tenure as opposition leader ended on 28 August 2008,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-02-10 |title=Anwar Ibrahim: a timeline of political turmoil |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-10/anwar-ibrahim/6083644 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418102820/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-10/anwar-ibrahim/6083644 |archive-date=2024-04-18 |access-date=2025-07-28 |work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |language=en-AU}}</ref> when she resigned to make way for her husband,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bennett |first=Clinton |author-link=Clinton Bennett |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Muslim_Women_of_Power/zRhhvNHZRX8C? |title=Muslim Women of Power: Gender, Politics and Culture in Islam |date= |publisher=Continuum |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-8264-0087-1 |pages=5 }}</ref> who succeeded her.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-08-28 |title=Anwar sworn in as Malaysian MP |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2008/8/28/anwar-sworn-in-as-malaysian-mp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927000406/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2008/8/28/anwar-sworn-in-as-malaysian-mp |archive-date=2021-09-27 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Al Jazeera }}</ref>
In 2010, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail called for the abolition of Malay supremacy, highlighting its exploitation by a small elite and advocating for Malaysian children to grow up as "Malay of Integrity."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Kayla |last2=Lay |first2=Belmont |date=2018-05-16 |title=The Straits Times accused of misreporting M'sia's DPM Wan Azizah. Here's why it's sensitive. |url=https://mothership.sg/2018/05/st-accused-misreporting-malaysia-wan-azizah-sensitive/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728032450/https://mothership.sg/2018/05/st-accused-misreporting-malaysia-wan-azizah-sensitive/ |archive-date=2018-07-28 |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=Mothership.sg }}</ref> In June 2011, she faced a RM200 million defamation suit filed by Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) over articles in ''{{Lang|ms|Suara Keadilan}}'', with the High Court deciding her case would be heard separately from a related suit against former deputy minister Tan Kee Kwong.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-06-28 |title=Felda's suits against Wan Azizah, Tan Kee Wong to be heard separately |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/28/felda%E2%80%99s-suits-against-wan-azizah-tan-kee-wong-to-be-heard-separately/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601201532/https://www.theborneopost.com/2011/06/28/felda%E2%80%99s-suits-against-wan-azizah-tan-kee-wong-to-be-heard-separately/ |archive-date=2021-06-01 |access-date=2025-08-19 |website= |publisher=Bernama |via=The Borneo Post}}</ref> In April 2012, she urged Felda to return {{Convert|306,000|acre}} of Sabah land, arguing the agency had failed to develop it for settlers and had converted it into profitable palm oil plantations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-04-24 |title=FELDA should return 306,000 acres to Sabah – Wan Azizah - Borneo Post Online |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04/24/felda-should-return-306000-acres-to-sabah-wan-azizah/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611190542/https://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04/24/felda-should-return-306000-acres-to-sabah-wan-azizah/ |archive-date=2021-06-11 |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=The Borneo Post }}</ref> In 2013, she confirmed she would not contest the general election, focusing instead on the PKR's campaign and engaging women voters.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-04-12 |title=Wan Azizah to give GE13 a miss |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/12/wan-azizah-to-give-ge13-a-miss/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612034827/https://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/12/wan-azizah-to-give-ge13-a-miss/ |archive-date=2021-06-12 |access-date=2025-08-19 |website= |publisher=Bernama |via=The Borneo Post}}</ref>
In 2014, the High Court ruled in favour of Felda, raising the defamation damages Wan Azizah and her co-defendants were required to pay from RM70,000 to RM2 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-23 |title=Sept 14 date for Wan Azizah appeal against Felda defamation damages - Nation |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/23/sept-14-date-for-wan-azizah-appeal-against-felda-defamation-damages/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724120354/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/23/sept-14-date-for-wan-azizah-appeal-against-felda-defamation-damages/ |archive-date=2018-07-24 |access-date=2025-08-19 |website= |publisher=Bernama |via=The Star}}</ref> Later that year, on 9 March, the PKR selected Wan Azizah as its candidate for the Kajang by-election,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aw |first=Nigel |date=2014-03-09 |title=Wan Azizah to replace Anwar in Kajang |url=http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/256501 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310131057/http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/256501 |archive-date=2014-03-10 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref> and she won the seat on 23 March with a majority of 5,379 votes.<ref>{{cite web |author=Ng |first=Eileen |date=2014-03-23 |title=Barisan claims to regain Chinese support despite losing Kajang by-election |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/barisan-claims-to-regain-chinese-support-despite-losing-kajang-by-election |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005133915/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/barisan-claims-to-regain-chinese-support-despite-losing-kajang-by-election |archive-date=2015-10-05 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=The Malaysian Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-24 |title=Anwar's wife triumphs in by-election |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/international/30229960 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=The Nation }}</ref> In August, she received support from the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party to lead Selangor, a move by the opposition to challenge the long-ruling UMNO-led Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which had faced criticism over governance and ethnic policies.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-08-18 |title=Malaysia opposition averts rift as Islamic party toes line |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-18/malaysia-opposition-parties-avoid-rift/5677074 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101034449/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-18/malaysia-opposition-parties-avoid-rift/5677074 |archive-date=2016-11-01 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work= |publisher=Associated Press |via=ABC News}}</ref>
Wan Azizah later contested the Permatang Pauh seat for the PKR,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-04-25 |title=Election Commission expects Permatang Pauh by-election results by 9pm polling day |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/election-commission-expects-permatang-pauh-by-election-results-by-9pm-polli |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518082855/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/election-commission-expects-permatang-pauh-by-election-results-by-9pm-polli |archive-date=2015-05-18 |access-date=2025-07-28 |work=The Malaysian Insider}}</ref> winning with a majority of 8,841 votes,<ref>{{cite news |date=2015-05-07 |title=Official: PKR retains Pmtg Pauh, smaller majority |url=http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/297557 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112214742/https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/297557 |archive-date=2018-01-12 |access-date=2025-07-28 |publisher=Malaysiakini}}</ref> and was sworn in as opposition leader on 18 May 2015, reclaiming the seat vacated by Anwar following his imprisonment in February.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Domínguez |first=Gabriel |date=2015-05-19 |title=The binding task |url=https://www.dw.com/en/anwars-wife-tasked-with-cementing-malaysian-opposition/a-18457984 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827134224/https://www.dw.com/en/anwars-wife-tasked-with-cementing-malaysian-opposition/a-18457984 |archive-date=2024-08-27 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Deutsche Welle }}</ref> In 2016, she helped forge an alliance between the opposition coalition and Mahathir's Malaysian United Indigenous Party. By January 2018, the coalition, known as the Alliance of Hope, designated Mahathir as its prime ministerial candidate and Wan Azizah as his prospective deputy, uniting diverse factions and contributing to BN's defeat in the 2018 general election.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Schäfer |first=Saskia |date= |year=2022 |editor-last=Aljunied |editor-first=Khairudin |title=Islamization in Malaysia and Its Discontents |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Routledge_Handbook_of_Islam_in_Southeast/-jxZEAAAQBAJ? |journal=Routledge Handbook of Islam in Southeast Asia |language=en |publisher=Routledge |pages=416 |isbn=978-1-000-54504-3}}</ref> Wan Azizah subsequently contested and won the Pandan seat with a majority of 52,543 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tan |first=Rex |date=2022-08-05 |title=Rafizi set to contest Pandan seat in GE15, replacing Dr Wan Azizah |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2022/08/05/rafizi-set-to-contest-pandan-seat-in-ge15-replacing-dr-wan-azizah/21211 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818012348/https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2022/08/05/rafizi-set-to-contest-pandan-seat-in-ge15-replacing-dr-wan-azizah/21211 |archive-date=2022-08-18 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Malay Mail }}</ref>
== Deputy Prime Minister == [[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 31, 2018.JPG|thumb|Wan Azizah and Narendra Modi in 2018|210x210px]] Following the general election, she was appointed as deputy prime minister in the seventh Mahathir cabinet and took office on 21 May 2018 after securing 64,733 votes.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Ummu Atiyah Ahmad Zakuan |first= |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/WOMEN_IN_THE_HOUSE_LEADERSHIP_IN_THE_MAL/h551EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Wan+Azizah+binti+Wan+Ismail+first+woman&pg=PA142&printsec=frontcover |title=Women in the house: leadership in the Malaysian parliament |date= |publisher=IIUM Press |year=2019 |isbn=978-967-491-122-5 |pages=142–143 }}</ref> She became the first woman to hold the position<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/A_Kaleidoscope_of_Malaysian_Indian_Women/98qWEAAAQBAJ? |title=A Kaleidoscope of Malaysian Indian Women's Lived Experiences: Gender‐Ethnic Intersectionality and Cultural Socialisation |date= |publisher=Springer Nature |year=2022 |isbn=978-981-19-5876-2 |editor-last=Karupiah |editor-first=Premalatha |pages=79 |doi=10.1007/978-981-19-5876-2 |editor-last2=Fernandez |editor-first2=Jacqueline Liza}}</ref> and was sworn in before Muhammad V of Kelantan at Istana Negara, alongside 13 other cabinet ministers, while also serving concurrently as minister of women, family and community development.<ref name=":3" />
During her time in office, Wan Azizah made several diplomatic visits. On 26 February 2019, she held a meeting with Hassanal Bolkiah during her first official visit to Brunei.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ain Bandial |first= |author-link=Ain Bandial |date=2019-02-27 |title=Dr Wan Azizah: New Malaysian gov't keen to expand cooperation with Brunei |url=http://thescoop.co/2019/02/27/dr-wan-azizah-new-malaysian-govt-keen-to-expand-cooperation-with-brunei/ |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=The Scoop }}</ref> Later that year, on 9 July, she met with Vice President of China Wang Qishan at Zhongnanhai.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-10 |title=Wang Qishan Meets with Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail of Malaysia |url=https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/gjhdq_665435/2675_665437/2732_663468/2734_663472/202406/t20240607_11410806.html |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}</ref> On 12 February 2020, she publicly honoured three women whistle-blowers from the Auditor General's Office for exposing tampering in the 1MDB audit report, praising their courage and calling for greater female involvement in anti-corruption efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Babulal |first=Veena |date=2020-02-12 |title=Wan Azizah pays tribute to women whistle-blowers |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/564825/wan-azizah-pays-tribute-women-whistle-blowers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212171843/https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/564825/wan-azizah-pays-tribute-women-whistle-blowers#google_vignette |archive-date=2020-02-12 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=New Straits Times }}</ref> On the following day, she urged women's empowerment and greater engagement at an APEC symposium in Putrajaya, highlighting the need for education, advocacy, and safe reporting channels to combat corruption.<ref>{{Cite news |last=APEC Secretariat |date=2020-02-13 |title=Empower Women to Fight Corruption: Dr Wan Azizah |url=https://www.apec.org/press/news-releases/2020/0213_actwg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250524102048/https://www.apec.org/press/news-releases/2020/0213_actwg |archive-date=2025-05-24 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=APEC }}</ref>
According to former attorney-general Tommy Thomas, Wan Azizah was the preferred candidate of Abdullah of Pahang for interim prime minister following Mahathir’s resignation in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-31 |title=King wanted Dr Wan Azizah as interim PM but Dr M nominated himself, says ex-AG |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/01/31/king-wanted-dr-wan-azizah-as-interim-pm-but-dr-m-nominated-himself-says-ex-ag |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131040456/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/01/31/king-wanted-dr-wan-azizah-as-interim-pm-but-dr-m-nominated-himself-says-ex-ag/ |archive-date=2021-01-31 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Free Malaysia Today }}</ref> She officially left office on 25 February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarah Rahim |first= |date=2020-02-25 |title=Dr Wan Azizah makes an emotional, tearful exit [NSTTV] |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/568964/dr-wan-azizah-makes-emotional-tearful-exit-nsttv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319052356/https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/568964/dr-wan-azizah-makes-emotional-tearful-exit-nsttv |archive-date=2020-03-19 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=New Straits Times }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-25 |title=Dr Wan Azizah bids farewell to ministry staff |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/02/25/dr-wan-azizah-bids-farewell-to-ministry-staff/1840873 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226182100/https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/02/25/dr-wan-azizah-bids-farewell-to-ministry-staff/1840873 |archive-date=2020-02-26 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Malay Mail }}</ref> Her tenure as deputy prime minister ended when Abdullah dissolved the cabinet on Mahathir's advice, amid the 2020 political crisis, which involved the resignation and interim reinstatement of the prime minister.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Babulal |first=Veena |date=2020-02-26 |title=Anwar to Wan Azizah: #tilljannah |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/569208/anwar-wan-azizah-tilljannah#google_vignette |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226184047/https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/569208/anwar-wan-azizah-tilljannah#google_vignette |archive-date=2020-02-26 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=New Straits Times }}</ref> Her successor, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, was appointed later, in July 2021, by Prime Minister Muhyiddin.<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-07-07 |title=Ismail Sabri appointed DPM, Hishammuddin now senior minister |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/582092 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303214854/https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/582092 |archive-date=2025-03-03 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Malaysiakini}}</ref><ref name="Muhyiddin reshuffles Malaysian Cabinet, promoting Ismail Sabri to deputy prime minister2">{{cite web |last=Tho Xin Yi |date=2021-07-07 |title=Muhyiddin reshuffles Malaysian Cabinet, promoting Ismail Sabri to deputy prime minister |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-cabinet-reshuffle-muhyiddin-ismail-sabri-hishammuddin-15172656 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804045206/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-cabinet-reshuffle-muhyiddin-ismail-sabri-hishammuddin-15172656 |archive-date=2021-08-04 |access-date=2025-07-28 |work=Channel News Asia}}</ref>
== Spouse of Prime Minister == [[File:Yoshiko Ishiba and Wan Azizah 20250110 1.jpg|thumb|Yoshiko Ishiba and Wan Azizah in 2025]] In the 2022 general election on 19 November, Wan Azizah won the Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary seat with a majority of 9,817 votes, defeating candidates from Perikatan Nasional and BN.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-19 |title=GE15: Wan Azizah wins Bandar Tun Razak seat |url=https://international.astroawani.com/malaysia-news/ge15-wan-azizah-wins-bandar-tun-razak-seat-392658 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Awani International }}</ref> Her husband was sworn in as Malaysia's prime minister on 24 November 2022,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-24 |title=Anwar Ibrahim appointed as Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister |url=https://pru15.bernama.com/news-en.php?id=2141779 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226235009/https://pru15.bernama.com/news-en.php?id=2141779 |archive-date=2023-12-26 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Bernama }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-25 |title='Waited 24 years for this': Malaysians celebrate Anwar's rise |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/25/malaysians-celebrate-anwar-ibrahims-rise-to-prime-minister |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212010402/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/25/malaysians-celebrate-anwar-ibrahims-rise-to-prime-minister |archive-date=2024-12-12 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Al Jazeera }}</ref> making her the spouse of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-25 |title=Malaysia's PM Ibrahim's swearing-in ceremony in Kuala Lumpur |url=https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/malaysias-pm-ibrahims-swearing-in-ceremony-in-kuala-lumpur/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjI6bmV3c21sX1JDMkFTWDlNOTQ4Wg |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=Reuters}}</ref> She later participated in a mental health discussion at the APEC United States 2023 on 17 November, hosted by Jill Biden, where she highlighted concerns over artificial intelligence and data privacy's impact on mental well-being.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wee |first=Jared |date=2023-11-18 |title=Blackpink's Rosé and Dr Wan Azizah speak at APEC mental health event hosted by Jill Biden (VIDEO) |url=https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/blackpink-ros-dr-wan-azizah-062125304.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112221100/https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/web/20241112221100/https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/blackpink-ros-dr-wan-azizah-062125304.html |archive-date=2024-11-12 |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=Yahoo News }}</ref> On 9 September 2024, Wan Azizah called for global action to end the Gaza war and prioritise rebuilding educational institutions, emphasising that education is a fundamental right and vital for children's survival.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-09 |title=Be Vocal In Stopping Gaza War And Rebuilding Education Institutions - Dr Wan Azizah |url=https://bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2338664 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007074347/https://bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2338664 |archive-date=2024-10-07 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Bernama }}</ref> On 10 January 2025, she welcomed Yoshiko Ishiba, wife of Shigeru Ishiba, in Putrajaya.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-10-01 |title=Japanese PM's Wife Enjoys Cruise Around Tasik Putrajaya |url=https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php/?id=2381027 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112155949/https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php/?id=2381027 |archive-date=2025-01-12 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Bernama }}</ref>
== Personal life == Wan Azizah married Anwar Ibrahim on 28 February 1980, and the couple have six children,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Malaysia PM Anwar pays tribute to wife Wan Azizah on her birthday |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/anwar-ibrahim-wife-birthday-wan-azizah-wan-ismail-malaysia-3122336 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120214713/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/anwar-ibrahim-wife-birthday-wan-azizah-wan-ismail-malaysia-3122336 |archive-date=2023-11-20 |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Channel News Asia }}</ref> the eldest being Nurul Izzah, a member of parliament.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-01-01 |title=Nurul Izzah is most 'manja', Wan Azizah says in gameshow video |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/407167 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302075746/https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/407167 |archive-date=2018-03-02 |access-date=2025-07-29 |work=Malaysiakini }}</ref> In November 2022, she declared assets worth about RM1.4 million, including RM1 million in cash and savings and four vehicles valued at RM360,000, with no debts, property, or other investments.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-09 |title=Wan Azizah declares RM1.4mil in assets |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/11/09/wan-azizah-declares-rm1-4mil-in-assets/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109171345/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/11/09/wan-azizah-declares-rm1-4mil-in-assets/ |archive-date=2022-11-09 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Free Malaysia Today }}</ref> She accompanied her husband to perform Umrah on 12 November 2023, where they also prayed for peace and prosperity in Palestine following the OIC Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-12-11 |title=Anwar, Wan Azizah Perform Umrah, Pray For Peace In Palestine |url=https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2243989 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118134810/https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2243989 |archive-date=2023-11-18 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work=Bernama }}</ref> In October 2024, Wan Azizah underwent a medical procedure at Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-10-07 |title=Wan Azizah recovering after undergoing medical procedure |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/10/07/wan-azizah-recovering-after-undergoing-medical-procedure/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206021723/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/10/07/wan-azizah-recovering-after-undergoing-medical-procedure/ |archive-date=2024-12-06 |access-date=2025-08-19 |work= |publisher=Bernama |via=Free Malaysia Today}}</ref>
==Election results== {| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" |+ Parliament of Malaysia<ref name="election results">{{cite web|url=http://semak.spr.gov.my/spr/laporan/5_KedudukanAkhir.php |title=Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri |publisher=Election Commission of Malaysia |language=ms |access-date=4 February 2017 }} Percentage figures based on total turnout.</ref><ref name="undiinfo">{{Cite web | title = Malaysia General Election | work = undiinfo Malaysian Election Data | publisher = Malaysiakini | url = http://undi.info/ | access-date = 4 February 2017}} Results only available from the 2004 election.</ref> !|Year !|Constituency ! colspan=2|Candidate !|Votes !|Pct ! colspan=2|Opponent(s) !|Votes !|Pct !|Ballots cast !|Majority !|Turnout |- | 1999 | rowspan="4"|'''P044 Permatang Pauh''' | {{Party shading/Keadilan}} | | {{nowrap|'''Wan Azizah Wan Ismail'''}} ('''keADILan''') | style="text-align:right" | '''23,820''' | '''61.77%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | | Ibrahim Saad (UMNO) | style="text-align:right" | 14,743 | 38.23% | 39,210 | 9,077 | 78.94% |- | 2004 | {{Party shading/Keadilan}} | | {{nowrap|'''Wan Azizah Wan Ismail'''}} ('''PKR''') | style="text-align:right" |'''21,737''' | '''50.69%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | | Pirdaus Ismail (UMNO) | style="text-align:right" | 21,147 | 49.31% | 43,734 | 590 | 80.93% |- | 2008 | {{Party shading/Keadilan}} | | {{nowrap|'''Wan Azizah Wan Ismail'''}} ('''PKR''') | style="text-align:right" |'''30,338''' | '''64.16%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | | Pirdaus Ismail (UMNO) | style="text-align:right" | 16,950 | 35.84% | 47,442 | 13,388 | 81.17% |- | 2015 | {{Party shading/Keadilan}} | | {{nowrap|'''Wan Azizah Wan Ismail'''}} ('''PKR''') | style="text-align:right" |'''30,316''' | '''57.09%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | | Suhaimi Sabudin (UMNO) | style="text-align:right" |21,475 | 40.44% | 53,102 | 8,841 | 74.53% |- | rowspan=4|2018 | rowspan=4|'''P100 Pandan''' | rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Keadilan}} | | rowspan=4| {{nowrap|'''Wan Azizah Wan Ismail'''}} ('''PKR''') | rowspan=4 style="text-align:right"|'''64,733''' | rowspan=4|'''75.47%''' |{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Leong Kok Wee (MCA) |style="text-align:right" |12,190 |14.21% | rowspan=4|85,774 | rowspan=4|52,543 | rowspan=4|84.66% |- |{{Party shading/PAS}} | |Mohamed Sukri Omar (PAS) |style="text-align:right" |8,335 |style="text-align:right" |9.72% |- | bgcolor={{party color|Parti Rakyat Malaysia}} | | Lee Ying Ha (PRM) | style="text-align:right" |442 | style="text-align:right" |0.52% |- | {{Party shading/Independent}} | |Wan Muhd Azri Wan Deris (IND) |style="text-align:right" |73 |style="text-align:right" |0.09% |- |rowspan=2|2022 |rowspan=2|'''P124 Bandar Tun Razak''' |rowspan=2 {{Party shading/PH}} | |rowspan=2|{{nowrap|'''Wan Azizah Wan Ismail'''}} ('''PKR''') |rowspan=2 align="right" |'''43,476''' |rowspan=2|'''46.74%''' |bgcolor={{Party color|Perikatan Nasional }} | |Kamarudin Jaffar (BERSATU) |align="right" |33,659 |36.18% |rowspan=2|93,021 |rowspan=2|9,817 |rowspan=2|78.74% |- |{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | |Chew Yin Keen (MCA) |align="right" |15,886 |17.08% |- |}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" |+ Selangor State Legislative Assembly !|Year !|Constituency ! colspan=2|Candidate !|Votes !|Pct ! colspan=2|Opponent(s) !|Votes !|Pct !|Ballots cast !|Majority !|Turnout |- | 2014 | '''N25 Kajang''' | {{Party shading/Keadilan}} | | {{nowrap|'''Wan Azizah Wan Ismail'''}} ('''PKR''') | style="text-align:right" | '''16,741''' | '''59.57%''' | {{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} | | Chew Mei Fun (MCA) | style="text-align:right" | 11,362 | 40.43% | 28,314 | 5,379 | 72.09% |}
==Awards and honours== In 2008, Wan Azizah was awarded the Order of the Defender of State, carrying the title {{Lang|ms|Datuk Seri}}, during Penang's state honours in recognition of her contributions to public service and leadership.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 July 2008 |title=CJ and Dr Wan Azizah top Penang awards list |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/10/nation/20080710170019&sec=nation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080713112536/http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2008%2F7%2F10%2Fnation%2F20080710170019&sec=nation |archive-date=13 July 2008 |access-date=12 July 2008 |work=The Star}}</ref> She later received an honorary fellowship from the Academy of Medicine Malaysia on 7 July 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-07 |title=Dr Wan Azizah Conferred Amm Honourary Fellowship |url=https://bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2204486 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108053536/https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2204486 |archive-date=2024-01-08 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Bernama }}</ref> followed by an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Political and Social Sciences from the University of Selangor on 9 September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-09 |title=Unisel confers honorary doctorate on Dr Wan Azizah |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/09/unisel-confers-honorary-doctorate-on-dr-wan-azizah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109031448/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/09/unisel-confers-honorary-doctorate-on-dr-wan-azizah |archive-date=2024-01-09 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=The Star }}</ref> She also had a new orchid hybrid named after her, during the launch of Orkid Putrajaya 2023, on 14 December of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=New orchid hybrid named after Dr Wan Azizah |url=https://www.thestartv.com/v/new-orchid-hybrid-named-after-dr-wan-azizah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723175459/https://thestartv.com/v/new-orchid-hybrid-named-after-dr-wan-azizah |archive-date=2024-07-23 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=The Star }}</ref>
On 26 April 2025, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Ophthalmology by the Malaysian Society of Ophthalmology for her contributions to eye care and medical education.<ref name=":2" /> On 14 June 2025, she was conferred the Eminent Educator Award by Nazrin Shah of Perak for her role in advancing medical education and the Parallel Pathway training programme in Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-14 |title=Dr Wan Azizah conferred Eminent Educator Award from College of Physicians Malaysia |url=https://themalaysianreserve.com/2025/06/14/dr-wan-azizah-conferred-eminent-educator-award-from-college-of-physicians-malaysia/ |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=The Malaysian Reserve }}</ref> * {{Flag|Penang}} ** 50px Knight Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DPPN) – '''Dato' Seri''' (2008)<ref>{{cite web |title=Darjah Panglima Pangkuan Negeri |url=http://www.penang.gov.my/index.php?ch=21&pg=13&ac=105&lang=eng |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610074900/http://www.penang.gov.my/index.php?ch=21&pg=13&ac=105&lang=eng |archive-date=10 June 2011 |access-date=12 July 2008 |work=Penang State Government Portal |publisher=Government of Penang}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Wan Azizah Wan Ismail}} {{wikiquote|Wan Azizah Wan Ismail}} * [http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/99/1231/year.azizah.html Asia Week: A Woman of Grace] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090919113759/http://mypolitician.com.my/indexpru.php?page=map2%2Fpulaupinang#P44b Result of Malaysian General Election 2008 for Permatang Pauh]
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|rows=2|before=Position established}} {{s-ttl|title=President of the People's Justice Party|years=1999–2018}} {{s-aft|rows=2|after=Anwar Ibrahim}} |- {{s-ttl|title=Leader of the People's Pact|years=2008}} |- {{s-par|my}} {{s-bef|rows=2|before=Anwar Ibrahim}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Dewan Rakyat<br />for Permatang Pauh|years=1999–2008}} {{s-aft|after=Anwar Ibrahim}} |- {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Dewan Rakyat<br />for Permatang Pauh|years=2015–2018}} {{s-aft|after=Nurul Izzah Anwar}} |- {{s-bef|before=Rafizi Ramli}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the Dewan Rakyat<br />for Pandan|years=2018–present}} {{s-inc}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Lim Kit Siang}} {{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Leader of the Opposition|years=2008, 2015–2018}} {{s-aft|after=Anwar Ibrahim}} |- {{s-bef|before=Anwar Ibrahim}} {{s-aft|after=Ahmad Zahid Hamidi}} {{S-bef|before=Ahmad Zahid Hamidi}} {{s-ttl|title=Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia|years=2018–2020}} {{s-aft|after=Ismail Sabri Yaakob}} {{S-end}}
{{Malaysia 15th FedRep}} {{Deputy Prime Ministers of Malaysia}} {{Leaders of the Opposition (Malaysia)}} {{Seventh Mahathir cabinet}} {{Pakatan Harapan}} {{Portal bar|Malaysia|Biography|Politics}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wan Azizah Wan Ismail}} Category:Living people Category:1952 births Category:Anwar Ibrahim family Category:People from Singapore Category:People who lost Singaporean citizenship Category:Singaporean emigrants to Malaysia Category:Malaysian politicians of Malay descent Category:Malaysian politicians of Chinese descent Category:Peranakan people in Malaysia Category:Malaysian Muslims Category:Malaysian obstetricians Category:Malaysian gynaecologists Category:Malaysian medical doctors Category:Ophthalmologists Category:Women ophthalmologists Category:Malaysian civil rights activists Category:Malaysian democracy activists Category:Malaysian political party founders Category:Leaders of political parties in Malaysia Category:People's Justice Party (Malaysia) politicians Category:Deputy prime ministers of Malaysia Category:Spouses of prime ministers of Malaysia Category:Spouses of deputy prime ministers of Malaysia Category:Women's ministers of Malaysia Category:Women government ministers of Malaysia Category:Leaders of the opposition (Malaysia) Category:Women opposition leaders Category:Women members of the Dewan Rakyat Category:Members of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly Category:Women MLAs in Selangor Category:Women in Penang politics Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Category:21st-century Malaysian women politicians Category:Malaysian MPs 1999–2004 Category:Malaysian MPs 2004–2008 Category:Malaysian MPs 2008–2013 Category:Malaysian MPs 2013–2018 Category:Malaysian MPs 2018–2022