| Honorific prefix | Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Datin Paduka Seri |
|---|---|
| Native name | زالحة اسماعيل |
| Birth date | 18 May 1936 |
| Birth place | Kuala Langat, Selangor, Federated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia) |
| Death date | 14 November 2020 (aged 84) |
| Death place | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Resting place | Taman Ibukota Muslim Cemetery, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur |
| Citizenship | Malaysian |
| Office 1 | Ministerial roles |
| Subterm 1 | 1986–1987 |
| Suboffice 1 | Parliamentary Secretary of Lands and Regional Development |
| Subterm 2 | 1987–1995 |
| Suboffice 2 | Deputy Minister of Transport |
| Subterm 3 | 1995–1999 |
| Suboffice 3 | Minister of National Unity and Community Development |
| Office 8 | Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat |
| Subterm 8 | 1982–2004 |
| Suboffice 8 | Barisan Nasional |
| Office 9 | Faction represented in Selangor State Legislative Assembly |
| Subterm 9 | 1978–1982 |
| Suboffice 9 | Barisan Nasional |
| Party | United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) |
| Other party | Barisan Nasional (BN) Perikatan Nasional (PN) Muafakat Nasional (MN) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Alma mater | University of Malaya |
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.
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
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | 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% | ||||||||||
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | P074 Tanjong Karang | Zaleha Ismail (UMNO) | 16,396 | 75.44% | Abd Rahim Awang (PAS) | 5,337 | 24.56% | 22,856 | 11,059 | 68.63% | ||
| 1986 | P087 Selayang | 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 | 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
- Malaysia
- Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1979)[5]
- Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2003)[6]
- Selangor
- Companion of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SMS)
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) – Datin Paduka (1980)[7]
- Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSSA) – Datin Paduka Seri (2001)[8]
References
- ^ Zaleha Ismail from a radio DJ to a minister
- ^ A Kaleidoscope of Everyday Mandelas’: Tan Sri Datin Paduka Seri Hjh Zaleha Binti Ismail
- ^ "Former national unity community development minister Zaleha Ismail dies". The Star Online. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 June 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat"
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat"
- ^ "DPMS 1980". awards.selangor.gov.my
- ^ "SSSA 2001". awards.selangor.gov.my