OUR FIRST WOMEN IN MALAYSIA

FIRST MALAYSIAN ASTROPHYSICIST

Prof. Datuk Dr. Mazlan Bt. Othman is the First Malaysian Astrophysicist who graduated from the University of Otago with a PhD in physics and is the first woman from a developing country to be appointed as director of the Vienna-based United Nations Office for outerspace Affairs in 1999. She is currently the director-general of Malaysia's National Space Agency.

FIRST WOMAN TO RECEIVE THE FEDERAL CROSS OF MERITS

Datuk Ooi Chean See , appointed as the Resident Conductor of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in 1997, was conferred the Federal Cross of Merit by the Federal Republic of Germany in April 2003 for her achievements.

FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK

Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz became the first woman Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia in May 2000 when she took over from Tan Sri Ali Abu Hassan Sulaiman. She joined the Central Bank in September 1985 and was appointed acting Governor in September 1998.

FIRST WOMAN JUDGE

Datuk (Justice) Siti Norma Yaakob , born in Seremban in 1940, was appointed a judge in the Court of Appeals on September 17, 1994 making her the first ever woman to be appointed as a judge.

FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT OF THE ASEAN AUTOMOTIVE FEDERATION

Aishah Ahmad was elected president of the Asean Automotive Federation from July 18, 2000 - July 18, 2002.

FIRST TO RECEIVE THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSON OF THE WORLD

Dr. Ang Hooi Hoon , is the first Malaysian to receive The Outstanding Young Person of the World 2001, honoree for the category of Scientific and Technological Development, organised by the Junior Chamber Inter-national, United States of America, on November 7, 2001, in Barcelona, Spain.

FIRST SOLO WHEELCHAIR JOURNEY

Former TV3 presenter Ras Adiba Radzi (born July 27, 1968), who is paralysed from the waist down, embarked on a 14-day, 420-km trip in her wheelchair from Johor to Kuala Lumpur on August 6, 2003. She wheeled through Malacca and Negeri Sembilan before arriving at Dataran Putra, Putrajaya on August 20.

FIRST WOMAN CHAIRMAN OF SECURITIES COMMISSION

Dato' Zarinah Anwar was elected chairman of the Securities Commission effective April, 2006. She started her career in the Government's Legal and Judicial service after graduating from University Malaya in 1976. She also held key positions with Shell Malaysia for 22 years as Deputy Chairman and Director for Human Resources, Corporate Affairs and Legal.

FIRST WOMAN FILM PRODUCER

Datuk Maria Menado , the queen of Malay movies in the 50s and 60s, set up Maria Menado Productions in 1961 and produced 'Korban Fitnah', 'Darahku', 'Sumpah Pontianak' and 'Pontianak Kembali,' among others. She was well-known for her ‘pontianak' (vampire) roles and last appeared in 'Darahku' (My Blood) in 1962.

FIRST WOMAN INVENTOR IN GREEN & NATURAL PALMBASED PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

Datin Dr. Liana Low has successfully created 100 percent totally green personal care products under the brand name of Liasari by substituting petrochemicals, tallows and coconut-based personal care ingredients with palm-based personal care ingredients. Her focus on research and development and her collaboration with worldrenowned medical doctors and cosmetologists led to diversification into the processing of oleochemical-based personal care products.

NAVY'S FIRST WOMAN COMMANDING OFFICER

Lt. Noraini Sheikh Ahmad was promoted to commanding officer of the Royal Malaysian Navy's communications centre in Lumut, Perak at the age of 42 on November 12, 1996, after 23 years of service. She was born in Singapore and grew up in Kuala Terengganu before joining the navy as a recruit with its volunteer unit on Jan 12, 1973. She holds the significant role of directing the communicating centre if the RMN in Lumut. The station receives and sends radio messages to naval and merchant ships within a 2,000 nautical mile range. The station which sits on a 17ha site with 70 personnel was built on April 1, 1983.

FIRST WOMAN TO PARAGLIDE FROM MOUNT KINABALU

Nor Azieta Kamaruddin became the ‘First Woman To Paraglide From Mount Kinabalu' on December 18, 2004. The 27-year old woman spent about 30 minutes in the air before landing at a golf course in Kundasang.

FIRST WOMAN STATE SECRETARY

Datin Paduka Norsiah Haron aged 55, was appointed 'First Woman State Secretary' by the Johor state government on January 10, 2006. The Batu Pahat born Norsiah began as an administrative officer in 1973 after graduating from Universiti Sains Malaysia. She was the state financial officer before assuming her new post.

FIRST WOMAN FEDERAL TRAFFIC CHIEF

Nooryah Md Anvar , 53 became the first woman Federal Traffic police chief of Bukit Aman with the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner (II) effective March 2006. The Penangite started her career as a police inspector with the Royal Police Malaysia in1975.

FIRST LPGA GOLFER

Lim Siew Ai started golf at the age of 6 and turned professional in 1996 at 22. She first qualified to play in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour
in 1999, when she recorded a tie for 30th at the Japan Airlines Big Apple Classic; returned to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament and tied for 51st to retain a non-exempt status for the 2002 session.

FIRST WOMAN DEPUTY CHIEF POLICE OF A STATE

Zaleha Abdul Rahman , has been with the force for 30 years before being appointed as the Deputy Chief of Police in Malacca with the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner (II). She had served in various departments and posts and was the Principal Assistant Director of the Logistics Department (IT division) at Bukit Aman before her appointment.

FIRST WOMAN VICE CHANCELLOR

Datuk Rafiah Salim, 59 was appointed the first woman Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaya effective May 1, 2006. Born on May 13, 1947 in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, she was the Executive Director of the International Centre for Leadership and Finance (ICLF) since 2003 before her appointment.

FIRST WOMAN PHD HOLDER IN THE MALAYSIAN ARMED FORCES

Major (Dr) Maznorila Mohamad received a PhD in Nutrition and Dietetic from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1999. She had served with the Armed Forces in various appointments and is currently a Nutritionist at the Armed Forces Hospital in Lumut, Perak.

FIRST TO BE APPOINTED AMBASSADOR FOR GUESS WATCHES

Ipoh-born Amber Chia beat 600 models to win the Guess Watches Timeless Beauty International Model Search 2004 in conjunction with Guess Watches' 20th Anniversary. Because of her victory, the 22-year-old Chia was appointed the Guess Ambassador for Malaysia. Chia caught the industry's attention after being featured in a campaign for a local fashion brand shot in Bangkok. After that, she was appointed spokeperson for various international products. Her talent and achievements made her a much sought after model in the region.