Siti Zaharah binti Sulaiman (Jawi: سيتي زهرة سليمان‎; 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 (UMNO) from 1996 to 1999. Siti Zaharah also was a member of the parliamentary constituency of Paya Besar, in Pahang for four terms from 1995 to 2008.

Siti Zaharah Sulaiman
سيتي زهرة سليمان
Minister of National Unity and Community Development
In office
15 December 1999 – 26 March 2004
MonarchsSalahuddin
Sirajuddin
Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamad
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
DeputyTiki Lafe
Preceded byZaleha Ismail
Succeeded byMaximus Ongkili as Minister of Prime Minister's Department (National Unity and Integration)
Shahrizat Abdul Jalil as Minister of Woman, Family and Community Development
ConstituencyPaya Besar
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
In office
12 November 1996 – 14 December 1999
MonarchsJa'afar
Salahuddin
Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamad
DeputyFauzi Abdul Rahman
Preceded byChong Kah Kiat
Succeeded byBernard Giluk Dompok
ConstituencyPaya Besar
Deputy Minister of Health
In office
8 May 1995 – 12 November 1996
MonarchJa'afar
Prime MinisterMahathir Mohamad
MinisterChua Jui Meng
Preceded byMohd Farid Ariffin
Succeeded byMohd Ali Rustam
ConstituencyPaya Besar
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Paya Besar
In office
25 April 1995 – 8 March 2008
Preceded byConstituency created
Succeeded byAbdul Manan Ismail (UMNOBN)
Majority16,759 (1995)
3,563 (1999)
12,518 (2004)
Women Chief of United Malays National Organisation
In office
9 October 1996 – 16 January 2000
PresidentMahathir Mohamad
Preceded byRafidah Aziz
Succeeded byRafidah Aziz
Personal details
Born
Siti Zaharah binti Sulaiman

(1949-04-24)24 April 1949
Lanchang, Temerloh, Pahang, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died26 July 2024(2024-07-26) (aged 75)
Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Resting placeSection 21 Muslim Cemetery, Shah Alam, Selangor
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Other political
affiliations
Barisan Nasional (BN)
Perikatan Nasional (PN)
Muafakat Nasional (MN)
SpouseSamarudin Md Rejab
Alma materUniversity at Albany, SUNY
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Cornell University
OccupationPolitician

Career

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During her tenure as Deputy Minister of Health, she officiated the launch of the No Tobacco Month 1998 at Pasar Budaya, Kuala Lumpur on 31 May 1998. Since 1989, 31 May was proclaimed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as World No Tobacco Day.[1]

UMNO Women's Politics

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Siti Zaharah was elected to the UMNO Supreme Council of the 2000–2003 session. The 'veiled' image is shocking of UMNO women.[2]

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 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)[3] 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

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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 Shahrizat Abdul Jalil (Lembah Pantai); Seripah Noli Syed Husin (Sepang); Senator Mastika Junaidah Husin (Arau); Rosnah Majid (Tanjong Dawai); Ng Yen Yen (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

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Parliament of Malaysia[4][5]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1986 P078 Mentakab, Pahang Siti Zaharah Sulaiman (UMNO) 15,271 68.63% Mohamed Rusdi Arif (PAS) 6,980 31.37% 23,196 8,291 71.59%
1990 Siti Zaharah Sulaiman (UMNO) 17,147 63.44% Johari Ismail (S46) 9,883 36.56% 28,242 7,264 73.79%
1995 P084 Paya Besar, Pahang Siti Zaharah Sulaiman (UMNO) 25,551 74.40% Wan Abd Rahman Wan Yusoff (S46) 8,792 25.60% 37,221 16,759 78.06%
1999 Siti Zaharah Sulaiman (UMNO) 20,749 54.70% Wan Jusoh Wan Kolok (KeADILan) 17,186 45.30% 42,221 3,563 79.24%
2004 Siti Zaharah Sulaiman (UMNO) 20,474 72.02% Saari Sungib (PKR) 7,956 27.98% 29,001 12,518 77.46%

Personal life and death

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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.[6] She was buried at the Section 21 Muslim Cemetery in Shah Alam, Selangor.[7]

Honours

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Honours of Malaysia

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References

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  1. ^ "No tobacco month 1998". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Wanita UMNO's Request For Supreme Council Seats Will Be Considered". Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Some 70,000 Have Invested In Asnita". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  5. ^ "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  6. ^ "Former minister Siti Zaharah Sulaiman dies". Malay Mail. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Former minister Siti Zaharah Sulaiman laid to rest". Malay Mail. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Three to receive 'Tun' title today; 51 to be conferred with 'Tan Sri'". New Straits Times. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Agong kurnia darjah kebesaran kepada 103 penerima" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Pahang royalty heads state honours list". The Star Online. 25 October 2003. Retrieved 6 February 2020.