Siti Zaharah binti Sulaiman (; 24 April 1949 – 26 July 2024) was a Malaysian politician. She also was the Minister of National Unity and Community Development, Malaysia. She was Chief of the Women's wing of the

United Malays National Organisation The United Malays National Organisation (Abbreviation, abbrev: UMNO; , PEKEMBAR) is a Conservatism, conservative, Nationalism, Malay nationalist political party in Malaysia. As the oldest national political party in the country (since its ince ...

(UMNO) from 1996 to 1999. Siti Zaharah also was a member of the parliamentary constituency of Paya Besar, in

Pahang {{Infobox political division , name = Pahang , official_name = Pahang Darul Makmur , native_name = , settlement_type = States and federal territories of Malaysia, State , image_skyline = , imagesize ...

for four terms from 1995 to 2008.

Career

During her tenure as Deputy Minister of Health, she officiated the launch of the No Tobacco Month 1998 at Pasar Budaya,

Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...

on 31 May 1998. Since 1989, 31 May was proclaimed by the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...

(WHO) as

World No Tobacco Day World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed around the world every year on 31 May. The annual observance informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what the World Health Organization (WHO) is ...

UMNO Women's Politics

Siti Zaharah was elected to the UMNO Supreme Council of the 2000–2003 session. The 'veiled' image is shocking of UMNO women. In October 1996, she won the Wanita Umno Chief position defeating Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (1984–1996) with a majority of 27 votes. Siti Zaharah's slogan is 'Bringing Changes,' However, she lost to Rafidah Aziz at the UMNO General Assembly 2000. Siti Zaharah became Wanita UMNO chief for 3 years and 7 months. Datuk Seri

Shahrizat Abdul Jalil Shahrizat binti Abdul Jalil ( Jawi: شهرزاد بنت عبدالجليل; born 15 August 1953) is a Malaysian politician who served in the Cabinet of Malaysia as Minister of Women, Family and Community Development from 2009 to 2012. She was th ...

defeated Rafidah in the struggle of the head of the movement at the UMNO General Assembly 2008. In 2000, a total of 671 female delegates re-elected Rafidah Aziz. Rafidah held the post for 12 years from 1984 to 1996. Rafidah got 341 votes while Siti Zaharah earned 329. Rafidah won with a 12-vote majority excluding one broken vote. UMNO women managed to create Amanah Saham Wanita (Asnita) and hoped men could set up Amanah Saham Lelaki (Aslaki). With the membership of 2.8 million UMNO members, it is not impossible for 50 percent of Wanita UMNO members to meet the goal of raising RM200 million.

Elections

In 1995, she won the Paya Besar parliamentary seats. In 1999, she won again by beating Wan Jusoh Wan Kolok (PKR). In 2004, he won with a majority of 12,518 votes. Her victory marks 38 of 43 BN women candidates winning in the election. Also winning were Rafidah Aziz (Kuala Kangsar), Datin Paduka Zaleha Ismail (Gombak); Datuk

(Lembah Pantai); Seripah Noli Syed Husin (Sepang); Senator Mastika Junaidah Husin (Arau); Rosnah Majid (Tanjong Dawai);

Ng Yen Yen Ng Yen Yen (; born 10 April 1946) is a Malaysian politician who had served in the Cabinet of Malaysia as Minister of Women, Family and Community Development from 2008 to 2009 and Minister of Tourism from 2009 to 2013. Her appointment as a ful ...

(Raub); Chew Mei Fun (Petaling Jaya Utara); Komala Krishnamoorthy (Kapar) and Kamala Ganapathy (Kota Raja); Lim Bee Kau (Padang Serai). On 27 March 2004, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dropped Siti Zaharah's name from the post of minister.

Election results

Personal life and death

In 2005, she was seriously injured in an accident at Jalan Pintasan Sri Jaya. As a result of the accident, she was warded in the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital Intensive Care Unit, receiving a 10.16 cm stitch on the left side of her head while the Paya Besar UMNO divisional women's wing secretary, Fauziah Abdul Rahman, suffered a crack in the neck. Zaharah Sulaiman died on 26 July 2024, at the age of 75. She was buried at the Section 21 Muslim Cemetery in

Shah Alam Shah Alam (, from Persian language, Persian, meaning "king of the world") is a city and the state capital of Selangor, Malaysia which is situated within the Petaling District and a small portion of the neighbouring Klang District. Shah Alam rep ...

Selangor Selangor ( ; ), also known by the Arabic language, Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the e ...

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

* : **

Commander 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 ...

(PSM) – Tan Sri (2017) * : ** MY-PAH Order of the Crown of Pahang - Knight Companion - DIMP

Knight Companion of the

Order of the Crown of Pahang The Esteemed Order of the Crown of Pahang ( Malay: '' Darjah Kebesaran Mahkota Pahang Yang Amat Mulia'') is a knighthood order of the Sultanate of Pahang. History The order was founded by Sultan Abu Bakar on 27 December 1968. It is awarded ...

(DIMP) – Dato' (1987) ** MY-PAH Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang - Knight Companion - DSAP

Knight Companion of the

Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang The Most Illustrious Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang ( Malay: ''Darjah Kebesaran Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang Yang Amat Di Mulia'') is a knighthood order of the Sultanate of Pahang. History The order was founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah on 24 O ...

(DSAP) – Dato' (1995) ** MY-PAH Order of the Crown of Pahang - Grand Knight - SIMP

Grand Knight of the

(SIMP) – formerly ''Dato, now Dato' Indera (2001) ** MY-PAH Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang - Grand Knight - SSAP

Grand Knight of the

(SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2003)

References

{{Authority control 1949 births 2024 deaths People from Pahang United Malays National Organisation politicians Government ministers of Malaysia Women government ministers of Malaysia Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia Malaysian MPs 1986–1990 Malaysian MPs 1990–1995 Malaysian MPs 1995–1999 Malaysian MPs 1999–2004 Malaysian MPs 2004–2008