Zaleha Ismail

She was born in Kuala Langat, Selangor. She attended the Sungai Pelek Malay School and University of Malaya - Bachelor of Arts (Economics) in 1961.

At Radio Malaya[2] (1962-1968) she worked as a Plan Assistant, then Manager of the English Service Plan. Additionally as a part-time Lecturer and Tutor at University of Malaya. 1968-1978 she became the Encyclopedia Officer in Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka subsequently the Deputy Head of Textbook Division.

Tan Sri Datin Paduka Hajah Zaleha Ismail as well as Vice President of MUBARAK, former Malaysian MP and President of the Malaysian Council for Children Welfare, Women's Association of the ASEAN Association of Women, and President of the National Council of Women's Organizations. He is also equally influential in regional and internationally, as she was elected President of the Association of Women Organization (ACWO) in 1986 until 1988.

Tan Sri Datin Paduka Zaleha continued to serve at ACWO even after he held the president in various capacities such as Vice President, Honorary Treasurer, and general secretary before being re-elected to lead ACWO as president in 1998 to 2000. He was also the Chairman of the Population and Development Board Country Family in Malaysia. Tan Sri Datin Paduka Hajah Zaleha Ismail is currently the Chairperson of Global Peace Foundation Malaysia[3] and Spark Capital Development Berhad.

In 1968 she became a regular member of UMNO and eventually the UMNO Supreme Council of Malaysia. She was involved in politics for 30 years. she started contesting in the 1978 general election for the Permatang seat of Selangor State Legislative Assembly. She was Member of Parliament for Tanjong Karang (1982-1986) and Selayang (1986-1995) afterward. She continued to be Deputy Transport Minister from 1987 to 1995 when she became a Member of Parliament for Gombak (1995-2004). The peak of her career came as she took on the National Unity & Ministry of Social Development as Minister, from 1995 to 1999. In Malaysia's 1999 general election, she defeated Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Dr. Hatta Ramli with a majority of 803 votes.

She was awarded the Seri Mahkota Selangor Star, Bintang Kesatria Mangku Negara and Datuk Paduka Mahkota Selangor in 1979. Among the recent awards was the Global Peace Award in 2011, "Ibu Harmoni Tokoh" Award 2013 and Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor for Women leading in Amal.[1]