Malay Women In Parliament

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31340, 10 April 1967, Page 2

Malay Women In Parliament

Malaysia now has three women members of Parliament and Toh Puan Rahah, wife of the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister (Tun Abdul Razak), believes there will soon be many more putting forward the woman’s point of view.

"Women in Malaysia are coming to realise they all have a part to play in the country’s development and they are coming forward,” Toh Rahah said on her arrival at Christchurch Airport yesterday.

More women were going on to Malayeia'e universities and many were becoming lawyers, doctors, business women, and secretaries. Married women were encouraged to continue with their careers, assisted by the ease with which help could be obtained for the house and family.

Others not working were actively engaged in voluntary service work, and organisations such as the Bed Cross, St John Ambulance Brigade, and international societies.

One of Toh Rahah’s special interests is the Malaysian Girl Guides’ Association, of which she is president. This morning she will visit the Christchurch headquarters

“The Giri Guides’ Association is very popular in Malaysia. There are branches in every state and we have 17,000 members. It’s a very active movement,” she said.

Malaysian guides had much the same programme as New Zealanders, with emphasis on outdoor life, practical skills, and welfare work. As a member from her girlhood, Toh Rahah considers membership very good for girls because it “teaches them to think of others.” She is also interested in Malaysia's many youth dubs, which form a social outlet for the young people. While the country’s youth, particularly in the cities, had the same interests and problems as those in many Western countries, there was little juvenile delinquency. “Parents realise the importance of education, and children are kept very busy getting their schooling,” she said. Toh Rahah’s older children —she has five sons ranging from 13 years to four months —have little time for hobbies. The oldest, Najuib, who at sft 6in towers over his

petite sft 2in mother, io a keen golfer. Parting from baby Nazir was “very hard” but Toh Rahah is comforted by the knowledge that he is in good hands. Her mother is taking care of him during the couple’s two week absence. The life of a politician's wife is seldom easy, and Toh Rahah finds the demands on her time heavy. “In politics, the time is not your own,” she said with a sigh. But she is philosophical about the constant round of entertaining and duties she must carry out. As long as banquets, dinners and luncheons come only every other day she is content However, she dislikes the children being “in the limelight” and is determined to maintain their privacy. Hobbies must take second place, but swimming and badminton with women friends fill in some spare hours, and she is a keen orchid grower, “Malaysia has an ideal climate for orchids," she said. “We have a very good gardener and I supervise the work." Orchids were not amongst the bouquet presented to Toh Rahah by Malaysian students at the airport but she was delighted to find “such very big chrysanthemums.” Charming, and softly spoken, she wore the modern adaptation of Malay dress, a sarong keyaya. The slender, ankle-length skirt of navy blue linen, worn with a tailored jacket accentuated her slimness.

“This is my first trip to New Zealand and Australia, and I am very interested to see everything. It was wonderful, too, being met by so many Malaysian students.”