PUTRAJAYA: The government has provided women with plenty of opportunities for education, which have allowed them to hold high positions and become leaders in many fields, said former prime minister’s wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.
She said although women were not recognised or appreciated in certain fields, the nation had produced female leaders, especially in the public sector.
“We see women flying fighter jets. There are even those who jump from planes in parachutes, just like men,” she said, adding that women played their leadership role with courage and bravery.
Dr Siti Hasmah said this in her speech during the Binary University Management and Entrepreneurship’s 23rd convocation at Marriot Hotel near here yesterday.
At the ceremony, Dr Siti Hasmah received an honorary doctorate for leadership for her contributions towards raising awareness among women, especially on health concerns.
The honour was conferred to her by Toh Puan Temenggong Kedah Puan Sri Tengku Maliha Tengku Ariff, who is the university’s chancellor.
Dr Siti Hasmah, who once served in the public health sector in Kedah for 18 years, expressed her gratitude to those who had supported her.
“Leaders must have followers who support them. To be a leader, you must have followers who understand your policies, who know what you want them to do, and to implement what the government has planned for the community,” she said, adding that support was vital in allowing the nation improve the lives of the poor in rural areas.
Present were Kedah Regency Council chairman Tan Sri Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah and university executive chairman Prof Datuk Joseph Adaikalam.
Joseph said Dr Siti Hasmah was conferred the degree for her involvement in shaping policies and programmes that raised the economic and welfare status of women in rural areas.
He said the university acknowledged Dr Siti Hasmah, who had authored several articles on family medicine and socioeconomic factors associated with pregnancy and childbearing.