This International Women’s Day on 8th March 2025, we celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of women around the world with the powerful theme, #AccelerateAction.
From breaking barriers to inspiring change, team makchic honours 9 astounding Malaysian women who have acknowledged strategies, resources and activities that have positively impacted women’s advancement, and have supported and elevated their implementation. They may not always make the headlines, but their impact is felt in every corner of our lives.
Content:
Melinda Anne Sharlini | Nurul Aliya Ashiqin Mohammad Noor | Beatrice Leong | Suri Kempe | Glorene Das | Meera Samanther | Rozana Isa | Maria Chin Abdullah | Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan
Melinda Anne Sharlini
Meet Melinda. She is passionate about women’s rights activism and is an advocate and campaigner for gender justice and human rights, with a specific focus on the right to nationality and statelessness in the Asia Pacific region.
With her experience in feminist advocacy, she spearheaded efforts at Family Frontiers to mobilise gender-equal citizenship rights in Malaysia. She is also an advisor to two feminist funding organisations specialising in participatory grantmaking, and also contributes towards strengthening the works of young feminist groups in the Asia Pacific region.
Nurul Aliya Ashiqin Mohammad Noor
Aliya rallied a team of passionate volunteers to fight sexual and gender-based violence, using everything from workshops to social media to spread awareness and spark change.
Nearly seven years ago, this passionate gender equality advocate co-founded StandUp Malaysia, an NGO dedicated to eradicating sexual and gender-based violence. Their mission is clear: to educate and raise awareness among women and girls in Malaysia through civic engagement, workshops, and social media content.
With a background in Political Science and Law, Aliya began her journey by writing news articles that highlighted pressing issues affecting youth, particularly women. Her unwavering dedication has sparked a ripple effect, growing StandUp Malaysia into a powerful team, largely made up of university students and volunteers who share her vision.
Beatrice Leong
Diagnosed with autism in her mid-thirties, Beatrice led the charge for autism awareness, ensuring women’s voices are heard and advocating for real change in policies that shape their lives.
Beatrice was diagnosed with autism at 35, giving her a unique perspective on the challenges faced by women and girls seeking diagnosis and support. Acknowledging that her late diagnosis was a painful rollercoaster of emotions, she now dedicates herself to reframing autism awareness, especially for women.
Beatrice co-founded AIDA (Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group), an autistic-led advocacy group that champions inclusion, self-representation, and advocacy for autistic individuals in policy-making. She is also a documentary filmmaker and entrepreneur.
Suri Kempe
Through the years, Suri has been actively championing several causes in Malaysia related to gender and inclusion. She is an activist and consultant with over ten years of experience fighting for gender equality and justice.
Suri has been a key collaborator on numerous global social justice initiatives and law reform projects. Her work includes contributions to the United Nations Development Programme and Malaysia’s Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development, as well as leadership positions with civil society organisations like Sisters in Islam, Musawah, Family Frontiers, ARROW, and QueerLapis.
Glorene Das
Glorene is a pioneer in seeking to promote and protect the rights of marginalised and vulnerable individuals, particularly women and children, who have no voice in this globalised world. Glorene has worked on a variety of platforms, representing them at national, regional and international levels.
For some 25 years, Glorene has been involved with Tenaganita, a human rights and non-profit organisation dedicated to helping, building and protecting migrants, refugees, women and children from exploitation, discrimination, slavery and human trafficking. As Executive Director, Glorene continues to lead the NGO in addressing issues of exploitation, discrimination, unequal treatment, and violence against women, refugees and migrant workers.
Meera Samanther
Meera led the charge for constitutional change, making gender equality a law and marking a huge win for women’s rights in Malaysia.The longest-serving president of the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) for 11 years and former president of the Association of Women Lawyers for 5 years, is a true trailblazer in women’s rights in Malaysia.
In 2001, she played a key role in convincing the former Minister of Women, Family & Community Development, Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, to add gender discrimination to Article 8 of the Federal Constitution. This game-changing amendment now prohibits discrimination based on gender, alongside religion, race, and descent, marking a major victory for Malaysia’s women’s movement.
Rozana Isa
Rozana and Sisters in Islam (SIS) have been reshaping the conversation on Muslim women’s rights and fearlessly pushing for policy reform, both locally and globally. For over 20 years, she has been a powerhouse in women’s rights activism.
Now in her 9th year as Executive Director of Sisters in Islam (SIS), she leads an NGO that is involved in both local and international women’s movements, advocating for a rights-based understanding of Islam, pushing for reform, and influencing laws and policies in Muslim communities. Last year, Rozana was part of the Malaysian delegation at CEDAW, where she delivered a powerful speech urging stronger government action on issues like female genital mutilation (FGM) and women’s financial rights.
Maria Chin Abdullah
Maria has been championing political participation, co-founding powerful NGOs, and fearlessly leading protests, all while fighting for free and fair elections and women’s rights in Malaysia.
Maria Chin Abdullah is a household name for many Malaysians, thanks to her over 30 years of tireless work in women’s rights activism. Her efforts focus on the realities faced by marginalised communities, low-income women, and indigenous groups. A fierce advocate for women’s political participation and institutional reform, Maria co-founded the All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) and EMPOWER, both of which defend women’s human rights. She also chaired Bersih 2.0 from 2013 to 2018, fighting for free and fair elections.
Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan
Datuk Ambiga has shattered the glass ceiling by championing judicial reform, and inspiring future leaders with her unstoppable drive for women’s full political participation—both in Malaysia and beyond.
She has earned global praise for her incredible contributions to the nation. In May 2023, the World Jurist Association honoured her with the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Medal of Honour on International Women’s Day, recognising her work in promoting the rule of law, equality, and inspiring future women leaders.
A fierce advocate for judicial reform, good governance, religious tolerance, and women’s full political participation, Datuk Ambiga’s influence stretches far beyond Malaysia’s borders. In 2009, she also received the prestigious International Women of Courage Award from then-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Team makchic would also like to honour these organisations in Malaysia which have tireless led the charge by accelerating action for the advancement of women in the country. These include calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.
Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group
We also remember countless other women past and present who have paved a way for Malaysian women—unsung heroes and everyday changemakers—who continue to inspire us.
