Tun Fatimah Hashim Building and Gallery Opened In UKM

BANGI, 26 Jun 2013 – The National University of Malaysia (UKM) has set up a building and gallery in remembrance of the nation’s first woman minister, Tun Fatimah Hashim.
It is part of the women leadership centre set up by UKM on August 1, 2011.
The Building and Gallery was officially opened by Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datuk Hajah Rohani Haji Abdul Karim, here today.
Datuk Rohani said the naming the building after Tun Fatimah was insignificant compared to what she had done for women in the country and her contributions to the nation.
She described Tun Fatimah as a national heroine who fought for women rights regardless of race and religion.
“I hope people are able to make Tun Fatimah as a role model in carrying out their duties regardless of rank and status,” she said.
Present at the opening ceremony were a daughter of the late Tun Fatimah, Datin Mariam Abdul Kadir; Chairman of UKM Board of Directors, Prof Emeritus Dato’ Dr M Zawawi Ismail; UKM Vice Chancellor, Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students and Alumni Affairs), Prof Dato’ Ir Dr Othman A Karim.
The late Tun Fatimah (1924- 2010) was the first female cabinet minister of Malaysia appointed as Minister of Welfare Services on May 20, 1969.
Prof Sharifah Hapsah said naming the building and the gallery after Tun Fatimah is to remind the people of the difficulty faced by a woman with only a basic education but managed to attain political leadership and a leader of the women in the country.
The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has approved an allocation of RM4 million for the leadership centre to carry out its activities.
Apart from politics, Tun Fatimah was also active in the women’s movement through the establishment of the National Council of Women’s Organisations Malaysia (NCWO)
She was the co-founder of NCWO and became its President for 24 years, from 1965 to 1989.
Tun Fatimah’s eldest daughter, Datin Mariam Abdul Kadir, said the family was deeply touched by the honour given to her mother by UKM.
Datin Mariam hoped the building and gallery could be a resource centre for youths, women and those involved in the struggle to elevate the status of Malaysians.
Among the collections of Tun Fatimah donated to UKM were diaries, clothes, religious classes notes, copies of documents and marriage certificate, newspaper clippings and her biography.
Tun Fatimah Binti Haji Hashim was born on December 25, 1924 in Kampung Parit Keroma, Muar, Johor. She was educated at the Malay school in Parit Keroma and later in Mersing.
She became involved in politics in 1947. She contributed a lot through the women’s wing of UMNO and the National Council of Women’s Organisation Malaysians (NCWO).