A

Aishah Ghani

politician · journalist

Born
December 15, 1923
Died
April 19, 2013
Age
90 years
Cause
natural causes

About Aishah Ghani

Aishah Ghani, 90, Malaysian politician, natural causes.

Explore other notable deaths in 2013 or deaths in April 2013.

The Deaths Archive presents

How well do you know Aishah Ghani?

Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.

10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?

Challenge your friends

Play together in real-time.

Full Biography

|

Aishah binti Ghani (Jawi: عائشة بنت غاني; 15 December 1923 – 19 April 2013) was a Malaysian politician who served as Minister of Social Welfare from 1973 to 1984 and Head of Wanita UMNO women's Malaysia from 1972 to 1984.

Early life and education

Born in Kampung Sungai Serai, Hulu Langat, Selangor, Aishah was a Minangkabau descent from Sijunjung, West Sumatra. She acquired education early in Bukit Raya Malay School, Cheras, Selangor. Ghani attended secondary school at the Diniyah Putri school in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, from 1936 to 1939. The school had been founded by Rahmah el Yunusiyah in 1923. In the year 1940 until 1943, she joined the College of Islamic Universities in Padang, West Sumatra, and then went to London in April 1955 and graduated journalism from Regent Street Polytechnic in London in December 1958.

Political career

Aishah's involvement in politics began as soon as the Malay Nationalist Party (PKMM) was founded in 1945, and she became a member of the women's wing and thus led the so-called Conscious Women's Front (AWAS).[citation needed]

At that time, she also worked as a journalist Pelita Malaya, PKMM official tongue. Aisha out of AWAS in 1946 (AWAS then banned by the government in 1948) and joined the rally which demanded independence at the Sultan Sulaiman Club, Kuala Lumpur, in March the same year. She joined Umno New Village in 1949 and was appointed as secretary.[citation needed]

Aishah on her return from her studies in London in 1959, worked as a journalist again, this time for the Berita Harian, as well as the editor in Group Releases New Straits Times. She put both her office in 1963 when she became a member of the UMNO Supreme Council and vice-chairman of Wanita Umno. On 13 September 1962, she was appointed the Senator and assented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

She was the first woman in Malaysia to be a senator and was Malaysia's first woman representative to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). From 1967 to 1972, Aisha was Malaysia's representative to the United Nations Conference on the Status of Women Commission. She also served as Secretary of State for Wanita Umno Selangor between 1960 and 1972.[citation needed]

In 1972, Aishah was appointed the Chief of UMNO Wanita Malaysia, an organisation which she headed for 12 years until 1984. On 1 March 1973, she was appointed as Minister of Social Welfare after the retirement of Fatimah Hashim and held this position for 11 years before ending her service in 1984. During her tenure as Minister of General Welfare, she launched the Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (National Welfare Foundation) (YKN), an organisation that is still functioning today. Aishah was Permanent Chairman of UMNO Wanita Malaysia from 1986 until 2013.[citation needed]

Career after politics

After her political career, Aishah became as a chairman of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia) from 1985 until 1997. She was a member of the Tun Abdul Razak Foundation, and Chairman of the Centre for Protection of Women Darsaadah. Also, she was Chairman of the Koperasi Wanita Jaya Murni Berhad since its inception in 1975. Aishah also devoted her time in the field of business, and was the chairman and / or director for at least seven private limited companies.[which?]

Death

Aishah died on 19 April 2013 at the age of 90. She was buried at Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur.

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

Awards and recognitions

Honours

  • 1966 : Johan Mangku Negara (J.M.N.) by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
  • 1977 : Dato' Paduka Mahkota Selangor Second Class (DPMS) which carries the title 'Datin Paduka' by the Sultan of Selangor
  • 1985 : Panglima Mangku Negara (P.M.N.) which carries the title Tan Sri by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
  • 1986 : Honorary Doctorate of Law by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
  • 1999 : Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor First Class (SPMS) which carries the title 'Datin Paduka Seri' by the Sultan of Selangor
  • 2002 : Honorary Doctorate in Political Science by the National University of Malaysia (UKM).

Places named after her

Several places were named after her, including:

Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Interactive

Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge

How well do you know this person's life and legacy?

No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.

Books & Media

Find books, audiobooks and films about Aishah Ghani on Amazon.

Available at Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Sources

Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions

Questions drawn from Aishah Ghani's archived record and the sources above.

  1. 1.How many years did Aishah Ghani head the UMNO Wanita Malaysia organisation?

    • A.11 years
    • B.12 yearscorrect
    • C.27 years
    • D.8 years

    Aishah Ghani was appointed Chief of UMNO Wanita Malaysia in 1972 and headed it for 12 years until 1984.

    Source: Political career

  2. 2.Which university hosts a residential college named after Aishah Ghani in Bintong, Perlis?

    • A.National University of Malaysia
    • B.Universiti Malaysia Perliscorrect
    • C.Universiti Sains Malaysia
    • D.Universiti Putra Malaysia

    Kolej Tan Sri Aishah Ghani is a residential college at Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Bintong, Perlis.

    Source: Awards and recognitions

  3. 3.What was Aishah Ghani's ancestry?

    • A.Sumatran
    • B.Minangkabaucorrect
    • C.Javanese
    • D.Malay

    Aishah Ghani was of Minangkabau descent from Sijunjung, West Sumatra.

    Source: Early life and education

  4. 4.Where was Aishah Ghani born?

    • A.Padang Panjang, West Sumatra
    • B.Kampung Sungai Serai, Hulu Langat, Selangorcorrect
    • C.Kuala Lumpur
    • D.Sijunjung, West Sumatra

    Aishah Ghani was born in Kampung Sungai Serai, Hulu Langat, Selangor.

    Source: Early life and education

  5. 5.What subject did Aishah Ghani graduate in from Regent Street Polytechnic in London?

    • A.Law
    • B.Social Welfare
    • C.Political Science
    • D.Journalismcorrect

    Aishah Ghani graduated in journalism from Regent Street Polytechnic in London in December 1958.

    Source: Early life and education

  6. 6.Which political organisation did Aishah Ghani join in 1945 where she led the Conscious Women's Front (AWAS)?

    • A.UMNO
    • B.New Village Alliance
    • C.Malay Nationalist Party (PKMM)correct
    • D.Social Welfare Party

    Aishah Ghani became a member of the women's wing of the Malay Nationalist Party (PKMM) and led the Conscious Women's Front (AWAS).

    Source: Political career

  7. 7.In what year was Aishah Ghani appointed as a Senator in Malaysia?

    • A.1972
    • B.1962correct
    • C.1959
    • D.1973

    Aishah Ghani was appointed the Senator on 13 September 1962.

    Source: Political career

  8. 8.What position did Aishah Ghani hold in the Malaysian government from 1973 to 1984?

    • A.Minister of Social Welfarecorrect
    • B.Senator
    • C.Chief of Wanita UMNO
    • D.Minister of Education

    Aishah Ghani served as the Minister of Social Welfare from 1973 to 1984.

    Source: Political career

  9. 9.Which organisation did Aishah Ghani launch during her tenure as Minister of General Welfare?

    • A.Centre for Protection of Women Darsaadah
    • B.Koperasi Wanita Jaya Murni Berhad
    • C.Yayasan Kebajikan Negaracorrect
    • D.Tun Abdul Razak Foundation

    During her tenure as Minister of General Welfare, Aishah Ghani launched the Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (National Welfare Foundation).

    Source: Political career

  10. 10.What role did Aishah Ghani hold from 1985 until 1997 after her main political career?

    • A.Chairman of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporationcorrect
    • B.Senator
    • C.Chief of Wanita UMNO
    • D.Permanent Chairman of UMNO Wanita Malaysia

    Aishah Ghani served as the chairman of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia) from 1985 until 1997.

    Source: Career after politics

  11. 11.Aishah Ghani was the first woman in Malaysia to achieve which position?

    • A.Head of Wanita UMNO
    • B.Minister of Social Welfare
    • C.Senatorcorrect
    • D.Chairman of Kraftangan Malaysia

    Aishah Ghani was the first woman in Malaysia to be a senator.

    Source: Political career

  12. 12.When did Aishah Ghani pass away?

    • A.19 December 1984
    • B.1 March 1973
    • C.15 December 1923
    • D.19 April 2013correct

    Aishah Ghani died on 19 April 2013 at the age of 90.

    Source: Death

  13. 13.Where is Aishah Ghani buried?

    • A.Hulu Langat, Selangor
    • B.Sijunjung, West Sumatra
    • C.Padang Panjang, Indonesia
    • D.Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpurcorrect

    Aishah Ghani was buried at Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur.

    Source: Death

  14. 14.In what year did Aishah Ghani receive the Honorary Doctorate of Law by Universiti Sains Malaysia?

    • A.1985
    • B.2002
    • C.1999
    • D.1986correct

    Aishah Ghani received an Honorary Doctorate of Law by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in 1986.

    Source: Awards and recognitions

  15. 15.Which title is associated with the Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN) awarded to Aishah Ghani in 1985?

    • A.Johan Mangku Negara
    • B.Tan Sricorrect
    • C.Datin Paduka
    • D.Datin Paduka Seri

    In 1985, Aishah Ghani was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (PMN), which carries the title Tan Sri.

    Source: Awards and recognitions

  16. 16.Which secondary school did Aishah Ghani attend in West Sumatra between 1936 and 1939?

    • A.College of Islamic Universities
    • B.Bukit Raya Malay School
    • C.Diniyah Putri schoolcorrect
    • D.Regent Street Polytechnic

    Aishah Ghani attended secondary school at the Diniyah Putri school in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra, from 1936 to 1939.

    Source: Early life and education

People who died on April 19

Related People

Spotted an error?

Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.

Report an error for Aishah Ghani →

We use cookies for analytics (Google Analytics 4 and PostHog) and advertising (Google AdSense) to understand site usage and improve your experience. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to the use of these cookies. See our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy for details.