Datuk Ruby Lee was the former secretary general for the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, serving the post for 32 years from 1965 to 1996. She joined the

Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement The organized International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a humanitarian movement with approximately 16million volunteers, members, and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human b ...

in 1953, and she was one of the longest-serving secretaries general for a humanitarian organisation in the world.

Work

Ruby Lee helmed the national society through some of the country's most critical situations, including the 13 May riots and collapse of the Highland Towers. Through her leadership, she also helped provide shelter, relief and repatriation for over 20 years to 200,000

Vietnamese boat people Vietnamese boat people () were refugees who fled Vietnam by boat and ship following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. This migration and humanitarian crisis was at its highest in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but continued well into the earl ...

, who later found new homes and started new lives in other countries. In 2001, Ruby Lee was part of the humanitarian fact-finding mission to Baghdad led by Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, to witness the extent of the catastrophe which had affected Iraq as a result of the economic sanctions imposed on the country by the United Nations (UN) in 1990. Lee was known as a staunch supporter of programs for women, youths and the disabled. She believed in empowering more female leaders to strengthen the operational response of national societies as well as recruiting the youth who aspire to serve with humanitarian values, and said, "If men cannot persuade governments to talk about the Geneva protocols, maybe the women can! Perhaps women could bring fresh ideas to a refugee problem or to a conflict situation."

Family

On 4 July 1947, Ruby Lee married Datuk Douglas K.K. Lee, the eldest son of Malaysia's former Finance and Transport Minister Tun H.S. Lee. She has two sons and a daughter (Michael, Kenny dan Janet), two daughters-in-law (Phyllis Chan and Noor Salasawati), a son-in-law (Sonny Lim) and four grandchildren.

Death

Datuk Ruby Lee passed away on 14 June 2009 at home in Seksyen 5,

Petaling Jaya Petaling Jaya (), colloquially referred to as "PJ", is a city in Petaling District, in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. Originally developed as a Satellite city, satellite township for Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, it is part of the G ...

, Selangor. She was 82 years old. The funeral was held at the St. Mary's Anglican Church, Jalan Raja next to

Dataran Merdeka Independence Square () is a square located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is situated in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. It was formerly known as the Selangor Club Padang, or simply the ''Padang'' (meaning "field" in Malay), and was ...

, Kuala Lumpur. In her final years, Lee used a wheelchair after a stroke and a prolonged battle with cancer.

Awards and recognitions

In March 2009, Lee was awarded the

Henry Dunant Medal The Henry Dunant Medal is the highest award of the Red Cross Movement. It is named after Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross Movement. The medal is presented every two years by the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Th ...

for her dedication and sacrifice in the service of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society. The medal is considered to be the highest level of distinction from the

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement The organized International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 16million volunteering, volunteers, members, and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ...

Honours of Malaysia

* : **

Officer of the

Order of the Defender of the Realm The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace of God-Defender of the Realm). The o ...

(KMN) (1981) ** Order_of_Loyalty_to_the_Crown_of_Malaysia_-_SSM

Companion of the

Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia The Most Esteemed Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia () is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country and awarded by the sovereign. The order was instituted on 15 April 1966 and gazetted on 30 June 1966 ...

(JSM) (1992) ** MY_Darjah_Jasa_Negara_-_Order_of_Meritorious_Service_-_PJN

Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (1998) * ** MY-SEL Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah - Knight Companion - DSSA

Knight Companion of the

Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah The Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah () is an obsolete order of chivalry conferred by the Sultan of Selangor as a reward for general services to the sultan and state of Selangor during the reigning of the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Azi ...

(DSSA) – Datin Paduka (1985)

References

{{Reflist Malaysian people of Chinese descent 1927 births 2009 deaths Officers of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Companions of the Order of the Defender of the Realm Commanders of the Order of Meritorious Service