Three iconic women – 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 October 8th under the club’s charity drive for breast cancer women empowerment. RCAD president Teh Mei Li said the award ceremony would be the highlight of the club’s Sixth Anniversary & Installation Night at the Royal Lake Club as RCAD continued its community work since inception in 2016.
She said these three iconic ladies were chosen for their immense sacrifices for their chosen fields of endeavour. They join other prominent Malaysians who had received the Paul Harris Fellow award, including former Prime Ministers Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Badawi, and corporate leaders like Sunway Group
founder Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah.
Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan, as the then Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, 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 the first woman Speaker and the youngest-ever Speaker for any State Assembly in Malaysia. As MP for Segambut now, she is 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 President of the Womens Aid Organisation (WAO) 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, such as Conversion cases and the Right to profess one’s faith.
She was also a former President of the Association of Women Lawyers and a present committee member. Meera has been involved with various women’s groups since 2001 in drafting the Sexual Harassment Bill and the Gender Equality Bill. Currently, she’s in the midst of redrafting the Persons with Disability Act with a group of activists working alongside Senator Ras Adiba.
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 programmes for Orang Asli Students at Pusat Intelek Pelajar Orang Asli (PIPOA), Rompin Pahang, as well as reading programmes with Orang Asli students in Titom, Pahang and Kuala Betis, Gua Musang, Kelantan. An Asia Pacific Leadership Program 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 engaged in various teaching and curriculum development projects involving high-profile participants in both Malaysia and Australia. She is an emerging Indigenous leader who believes in a more inclusive and just future for all in Malaysia and beyond.
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.
On the charity drive, Teh said the initiative was aimed at paying for diagnostic costs, especially breast cancer scans, for the underprivileged community.
“We want to create more awareness of breast cancer and also to empower women at the same
time,” she added.
RCAD is currently seeking corporate and individual sponsorship for RM5,000, RM3,500 and RM2,000 each for this charity drive.
Those who wish to sponsor are requested to pay into the Rotary Club of Ara Damansara, Public Bank account number 3203932214 or call Organising Chairman Melissa Lim at +6012-202 2391 for further details.
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