It’s International Women’s Day – a day dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements, raise up awareness against bias and act for equality.

It is celebrated on 8 March every year. It’s not just about the march that happens around the world (including Malaysia) but a day to recognise issues pertaining to gender inequality and to celebrate those who thrive despite the odds against them.

Malaysia, too, is still fighting for a more equal society but we’re lucky to see more women excelling in many areas.

Today, we look at a few of the women who have become a beacon of hope for many girls and other women who’re still struggling to break off the invisible chains that hold them back.

1) Yeo Bee Yin, former minister

Who doesn’t know this badass former Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change who made European countries that treated Malaysia like their very own plastic dumping ground take back their trash? This was at no cost to the Malaysian government too!

Bee Yin fast became one of the most popular ministers during her short stint in the ministry with her dedication and hard work.

Not only did she do her job better than many who came before her, she also got married and pregnant during the time. Who said women can’t juggle a career and personal life, right?

If the government did not change, Bee Yin would have been the first minister to have given birth while sitting in office.

Isn’t it crazy that even in 2020, the sight of a women leader who also becomes a mother while in position of power is rare?

2) Dr. Hartini Zainudin, activist

In a world that seems dark, people like Dr Hartini Zainudin give us a little bit hope for a better world.

For years, Dr Hartini have been working diligently to create better future for children especially. She is the founder of Yayasan Chow Kit and has two adopted kids herself.

She has been advocating for the rights of stateless children, children who get trafficked and are faced with other challenges.

Google her name, it is more than likely that you will find articles about her involvement in not only advocating for children rights, but also actively saving some children from dire states.

You can read more about her and Yayasan Chow Kit here.

3) Nur Izzati and Nur Atiqah Khairuddin, first female hot air balloon pilots in the country

The annual Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is an event many Malaysians look forward to and the success of the event is largely due to the vision of sisters Nur Izzati and Nur Atiqah Khairuddin.

Although the fiesta and the family’s hot air balloon business AKA Balloons Sdn Bhd was started by their late father, the sisters brought it further when they took over the business.

The duo even became the first female hot air balloon pilots in the country.

“It was a purely business decision,” Atiqah said when asked about getting the license to fly.

Whatever the reasons were for the sisters to create a new record in Malaysia, their success is one we can all feel proud about. You can read more about the sisters’ journey here.

4) Nur Izzati Athirah Mohammad Yusoff, underwater welder

Izzati is an example of a woman who ignored all the rules of patriarchy and proved that women can do hard, dangerous labour and be good at it too.

She is the first female underwater welder in the country, working in deep waters where visibility is low and anything could happen without warning.

Nur Izzati studied at Kolej Vokasional Taiping in Kamunting, Taiping, Perak where she was the only female student who studied welding there in 2013. She also took up underwater welding course at the Weldzone Training Centre in Seri Manjung, Perak, and now works as an assistant instructor at the centre while being an underwater welder.

5) Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Ungku Zeti Akhtar binti Ungku Abdul Aziz, former governor of Bank Negara Malaysia

All those titles before her name should give you an idea of Tan Sri Zeti Aziz’s success, even if you’re too young to remember her signature on older bank notes. (Hunt up some notes printed before 2016 if you really don’t remember).

She was the seventh governor of Bank Negara from 2000 to 2016, and is now the group chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB).

Even at 72, Zeti Aziz is still working and probably doing as great a job at it as she did at her previous ones too!

She is also one of the Malaysian Council of Eminent Persons – a group of smart people former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad picked to help improve Malaysia when he got reelected as the seventh Prime Minister.

Still a long way to go

Despite having some amazing women who've been breaking glass ceiling in Malaysia, we still have a long way to go.

We don't even have 30 per cent representation in parliament yet. Many still question the ability of women to be in positions of power, nevermind that incompetent men have been in power for eons without anyone questioning them based on their gender.

Girls and women are still told that they shouldn't get do certain things because it's not 'ladylike', catcalling and gender-based violence is still very much a thing...the list goes on.

But women like these give us some hope, representation and the ability to dream for those who still have the time to shape their futures.

Happy International Women's Day! Let us all play our parts in uplifting women, recognising gender biases in others and ourselves, and acting against the consequences of those biases. #EachforEqual