Celebrating International Women’s Day this upcoming 8th March, other than knowing a good way to take care of ourselves, let’s cherish other women’s accomplishments and contributions. Here’s 6 Inspiring Malaysian Women that we can celebrate and look up to together.
6 Inspiring Malaysian Women
1. Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir
The first in our Inspiring Malaysian Women list is Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, a prominent activist and AIDS advocacy worker who is also a fearless voice for women’s rights, gender equality, religious freedom and justice. She is a socio-political activist and writer known for being outspoken on issues like gender inequality, religious fanaticism and human rights.
Also a passionate advocate for Muslim women’s rights, Marina Mahathir was previously a board member of women’s-rights group the Sisters in Islam, and continues to champion the organisation’s cause for justice and gender equality through fund-raising.
Contributions & Achievements
- UN Person of the Year (2010)
- Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur – Government of France (2016)
More insight about her can be watched from the video below:
For more information about Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, kindly visit her LinkedIn.
2. Anita Yusof
Anita Yusof is an adventurous motorcyclist who dreams of travelling the world but this inspirational woman has taken her dream up a notch. Anita is a huge fan of riding and she is clearly not afraid to travel alone. She has explored hundreds of routes in over 50 countries with her trusty FZ150i motorbike.
With so many accomplishments, the daredevil has shown us that age is not a barrier to success and Anita’s story will continue to inspire women all around the world.
Contributions & Achievements
- Asia Book of Records – First Woman To Ride Around The World (2017)
More insight about her can be watched from the video below:
For more information about Anita Yusof, kindly visit her Facebook & Instagram.
3. Datuk Nicol Ann David
There’s no other squash player who dominates the court quite like Datuk Nicol Ann David. Born in Penang, Datuk Nicol Ann David is the daughter of Ann Marie David, a retired Malaysian Chinese school teacher of Hokkien-Hakka descent and Desmond David, a Malaysian Indian engineer of Tamil descent who is also a former state athlete and footballer.
After retiring from the sport in 2019, she is now actively involved in the Nicol David Foundation that aims to empower disadvantaged children through sports.
Contributions & Achievements
- Women’s World Junior Squash Championships when she was 15
- Carrying the Olympic torch for Athens Olympics (2004)
- WISPA Player of the Year (2005-2010)
- Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri award (DSPN) (2008)
- Order of Merit (Darjah Bakti) (2008)
- Appointed UNDP National Goodwill Ambassador for Malaysia
- Voted as the World Games’ Greatest Athlete of All Time (2021)
More insight about her can be watched from the video below:
For more information about Datuk Nicol Ann David, kindly visit her Facebook & Instagram.
4. Dr. Amalina Bakri
Who could ever forget Dr. Amalina Bakri, the one who shook the country by obtaining 17 1As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination in 2004? Dr. Amalina continues to amaze us with her success and endless contributions to the world of medicine.
Currently serving as a Speciality Trainee Surgeon at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Dr. Amalina specialises in general surgery, trauma/emergency as well as breast surgery. On top of that, she also gives talks at universities with regards to her specialities.
Contributions & Achievements
- Gen.T – Malaysia (2021)
- Asia’s Most Influential MY (2021)
- Darzi Academic Clinical Fellowship from the Imperial College London
More insight about her can be watched from the video below:
For more information about Dr. Amalina Bakri, kindly visit her Instagram & Twitter.
5. Prof. Emerita Dato’ Seri Dr Mazlan Othman
Prof. Emerita Dato’ Seri Dr. Mazlan Othman is Malaysia’s first astrophysicist who played an instrumental role in sending Malaysia’s first astronaut to space and creating public awareness and understanding of astronomy. Celebrated for putting Malaysia’s first astronaut to space, her illustrious career in space science saw her in leadership roles.
Dr. Mazlan is currently director of the International Science Council (ISC) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP), a role she assumed in 2017.
Contributions & Achievements
- Director of United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) (1999-2002 & 2007-2013)
- Founding Director-General of ANGKASA, Malaysia’s National Space Agency (2002-2007)
- Established the National Space Centre
- Founded the Langkawi National Observatory
- Spearheaded the Angkasawan Programme (2007)
- Director of the International Science Council (ISC) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) (2017)
More insight about her can be watched from the video below:
For more information about Prof. Emerita Dato’ Seri Dr. Mazlan Othman, kindly visit her LinkedIn.
6. Alena Murang
Our last individual in the Inspiring Malaysian Women list famed for her eclectic sound, Borneo-born singer and songwriter Alena Murang highlights her East Malaysian roots through her unique melody. Alena Murang is a Borneo-born Dayak-European living in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), who sings in the endangered languages of Kelabit and Kenyah. Dayak are the native people of Borneo.
She is one of the first women to play the sape’, a lute instrument from Borneo traditionally (pre-1930s) reserved for male healers. Her song “Warrior Spirit” is totally a hit and contributed a lot of awards for her.
Contributions & Achievements
- ‘Best Music Video’ at the Rome International Movie Awards
- ‘Special Jury Award’ at the Los Angeles Film Awards
- ‘Best Ethnographic Film’ at the New York International Awards
- ‘Best Music Video’ at the New York International Awards
- ‘Best Asia & Pacific Music Video’ at the International Music Video Awards UK
- ‘Best Costume’ at the International Music Video Awards UK
- ‘Best World Music Video’ award at the Buenos Aires Music Video Festival 2021
Video below is the Music Video of “Warrior Spirit” that helps Alena to receive this much awards:
For more information about Alena Murang, kindly visit her official website, Facebook & Instagram.
Quoted from Serena Williams, an American Tennis Player, she said:
Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.
Serena Williams, an American Tennis Player
Plus, by celebrating these 6 Inspiring Malaysian Women: Anita Yusof, Marina Mahathir, Nicol David, Dr Amalina Bakri, Alena Murang & Dr Maslan Othman with their contributions & achievements, it proves how we as women can achieve basically anything in our life. The key to success is always patience, dedication, and support. For this year’s International Women’s Day, let’s together set a new goal in our life and try our very best to achieve it.
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