Inspirational Asian Women Politics

Inspiration Asian Women

Inspiration Asian Women – Politics

Dear PAWA friends,

At a time when trust in politicians is at a low, PAWA takes a look at women in Asia who have defeated significant odds to occupy political office. Some came into politics through male relatives, and some have been more controversial than others, but all have had a significant impact on the trajectory of their country’s history

Research done by Puteri Iffah Zulaikha Tarmizan, The Kalsom Movement

Halimah Yacob, Singapore

A trailblazer in Singapore’s political scene, Halimah Yacob was elected Singapore’s first female president in 2017. The Malay-Muslim politician was breaking glass ceilings even before her presidency, being the first Malay women elected to Parliament back in 2001 as well as the first female Speaker of Parliament in 2013. Besides her notable achievements in government and public service, she also champions a number of social causes such as mental health and women’s issues, which has garnered her wide support from the people of Singapore.

Indira Gandhi , India

Indira Gandhi was India’s first and to date only female prime minister, winning three terms of office. The daughter of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, she was involved in politics from a young age. She was named “Woman of the Millennium” by BBC back in 1999 and was recently included in the Time magazine’s list of 100 Powerful Women who defined the last century. One of the hallmarks of her time in office was the Green Revolution programme that successfully transformed India into a country of self-sufficiency in food grains in the 60s. She was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in revenge for an attack on a Sikh holy shrine that had been occupied by separatists.

Tsai Ing-Wen, Taiwan

As the first female president of Taiwan, serving since 2016, Tsai Ing-Wen has had to face scrutiny and sexism not only from the public and her opponents, but also from members of her own party. A lawyer by training, Tsai Ing-Wen has advocated for legal protection of gender equality and promised increased government oversight to protect Taiwanese women from violence and crime. She won a second term in early 2020, and was named as one of Time Magazine’s most influential people of 2020 and was number 9 on Forbes’s list of powerful women.

Siti Rahmah Kassim , Malaysia

Malaysia’s unsung hero, Siti Rahmah was an independence fighter remembered for her selfless act of giving away her gold bangle, a wedding gift from her father, to help pay for the travel of the Merdeka Mission delegation to London for the negotiation of Malaysia’s independence. The trip was in jeopardy due to a lack of funds. Her act inspired other men and women to give up pieces of gold jewellery and watches and sufficient money was gathered to enable Tunku Abdul Rahman — later Malaysia’s first prime minister — to go to London. Post Malaya’s independence, Siti Rahmah was one of the first women to contest and won a seat in the 1959 General Election.

Corazon Aquino, Philippines

Corazon Aquino, Philippines’ first woman President, came into office as a prominent figure of the People Power Revolution and ended the 20-year dictatorship of the Marcos regime, during which time her husband was assassinated. She served from 1986-1992, restoring the constitution and democratic rule. Aquino instituted market reforms to revive the debt-ridden economy and was named Time magazine’s Women of the year in 1986. She was the first Filipino to receive the prestigious Prize for Freedom Award in 1987. After leaving office, she worked to reduce violence and homelessness in the Philippines and was vocal on political issues.

Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan

Benazir Bhutto was the first democratically elected female leader of an Islamic country. The daughter of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, she was elected to two terms in office, throughout which she faced opposition from those opposed to a woman at the helm. She brought electricity to the countryside and built schools around the country, making hunger, housing and healthcare her priorities, After being dismissed from office in 1996, she spent several years in exile in London, returning to participate in the 2008 election. She was killed in an attack while campaigning. Posthumously, she was granted the United Nations Human Rights Prize in 2008.

Mari Elka Pangestu, Indonesia

Mari Elka Pangestu is Indonesia’s first woman of Chinese descent to hold a position in the cabinet. She was the Minister of Trade for seven years followed by another three years as the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. In this role, she pushed for the strengthening of intellectual property rights to encourage Indonesian artists and entrepreneurs. She was on the Board of Trustees for the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta, and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). In 2020, she was appointed managing director of Development Policy and Partnerships at the World Bank.

Yuriko Koike, Japan

A former TV anchor, Yuriko Koike entered politics in the early 1990s and was elected to the House of Representatives. In 2016, she became the first woman to be elected governor of Tokyo, despite not winning the support of the Tokyo chapter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. A year later, she founded her own political party, and in 2020 she was reelected in a landslide victory. Koike has campaigned for economic liberalism and a greater role for women in formal employment. She is also a strong advocate of environment-friendly policies.

Chou Bun Eng, Cambodia

Chou Bun Eng is a long-standing member of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and was elected as the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior in 2008. She came from a humble background and was the only member of her family to complete high school. She started her career in teaching and moved up to positions in government and civil society organisations. Since her appointment as permanent Vice-Chair of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking of Cambodia, the government has made notable progress in combating this issue.

Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s longest serving prime minister combining separate terms in office, Hasina is the daughter of the country’s founding father and first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1975 together with most of her family. She was involved in nation-building from a young age and was her father’s political liaison while he was imprisoned by the Pakistani government. Hasina herself was detained several times through the period of martial law in the 80s. She has constantly strived for democracy and human rights and has denounced military rule. Hasina is the recipient of several international awards and honorary degrees.

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