THREE iconic women leaders – youngest-ever State assembly Speaker Hannah Yeoh, women’s rights champion Meera Samanther and Orang Asli education advocate Dr Suria Selasih Angit – have been selected to be Paul Harris Fellows under Rotary International for their outstanding and exemplary contributions to society.
They will receive the honours from the Rotary Club of Ara Damansara (RCAD) on Oct 8 under the club’s charity drive for breast cancer women empowerment.
According to RCAD president Teh Mei Li, the award ceremony would be the highlight of the club’s 6th Anniversary & Installation Night at the Royal Lake Club as RCAD continues its community work since its inception in 2016.
Teh said the three iconic ladies were chosen for their immense sacrifices in their chosen fields of endeavour.
Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan as the women, family and community development deputy minister in the Pakatan Harapan government had spearheaded many initiatives to empower women – housewives in particular – and children against many social ills such as child sexual crimes and domestic abuse.
She has also collaborated with the private sector for preventive measures and awareness against baby dumping as well as activity centres for elderly communities in the nation.
She was also the first woman Speaker and the youngest-ever Speaker for any State Assembly in Malaysia. As Segambut MP, she is currently part of Parliament’s Special Select Committee on Women and Children Affairs and Social Development.
An advocate for women and people with disabilities, Meera Samanther served as the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) president for 10 years where she took on human rights cases for WAO and the women’s movement covering domestic violence, rape, migrant worker abuse and the infringement of Constitutional Rights.
Meera was also a former Association of Women Lawyers president and a present committee member, and has been involved in various women groups since 2001.
Meanwhile, Dr Suria Selasih Angit – who hails from the Temiar community – is currently Assistant Professor at the Centre of Academic Partnerships and Engagement, University of Nottingham Malaysia.
A past winner of the Orang Asli Student Icon award, Dr Suria is passionate about making education more inclusive for Indigenous students.
She is actively involved in motivational programme for Orang Asli Students at Pusat Intelek Pelajar Orang Asli (PIPOA) in Rompin, Pahang as well as reading programmes with Orang Asli students in Titom, Pahang and Kuala Betis and Gua Musang, Kelantan.
An Asia Pacific Leadership Programme fellow at the East-West Centre in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dr Suria has recently completed her residency at the East-West Centre as a recipient of the Daim Zainuddin Sustainability Development Fellowship award.
She has also engaged in various teaching and curriculum development projects involving high-profile participants in both Malaysia and Australia.
The Paul Harris Fellow, established in 1957, acknowledges individuals for their significant contributions and philanthropic efforts in leaving an impact on the public.
The recognition was in honour of Chicago attorney Paul Harris (1868-1947), who founded Rotary in 1905. – Sept 27, 2022
