Biography
Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail, born on December 3, 1952, is a Malaysian ophthalmologist and politician who broke barriers by becoming the first woman to serve as Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2018 to 2020. Originally from Singapore, she completed her medical studies at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and worked in medicine for 14 years before stepping into the political arena in 1998. Her entry into politics was a response to her husband Anwar Ibrahim's removal from the role of Deputy Prime Minister and his jailing on charges she considered politically driven. Wan Azizah became a key figure in the Reformasi movement, founded the National Justice Party (later the People's Justice Party or PKR), and was the second woman to lead a parliamentary party in Malaysia. She won the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in 1999 and kept it in 2004, establishing herself as a significant opposition voice. In April 2008, she made history as Malaysia's first female Leader of the Opposition but stepped down later that year when her husband was released from prison and took over the role. Throughout her career, she has been outspoken on human rights and engaged in debates on governance, Malay supremacy, and land rights. She continued her political journey by winning the Kajang by-election in 2014, reclaiming Permatang Pauh in 2015, and securing the Pandan seat in 2018. Her appointment as Deputy Prime Minister in 2018 under Mahathir Mohamad was a landmark moment for women in Malaysian politics. She also served as Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. After the 2020 political upheaval that caused the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government, she left office but returned to parliament in 2022 after winning the Bandar Tun Razak seat. She currently serves as the Prime Minister's spouse following her husband's appointment to the role in 2022.
Before Fame
Wan Azizah went to Kolej Tunku Kurshiah for her early education and later studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, focusing on ophthalmology. She served as a government doctor for 14 years until 1993, establishing a successful career in medicine before she unexpectedly entered politics. Her shift from medicine to politics happened due to the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the dismissal and arrest of her husband Anwar Ibrahim, who was Deputy Prime Minister under Mahathir Mohamad at the time.
Key Achievements
- First woman to serve as Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia (2018-2020)
- First female Leader of the Opposition in Malaysia (2008)
- Founded and led the People's Justice Party (PKR) from 1998
- Practiced as a qualified ophthalmologist for 14 years
- Won multiple parliamentary elections across different constituencies spanning over two decades
Did You Know?
- 01.She temporarily stepped aside from her Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in 2008 specifically to allow her husband to return to politics after his release from prison
- 02.During her husband's imprisonment, she often visited him in jail while simultaneously leading the opposition movement against the government that incarcerated him
- 03.She was trained as an eye surgeon and practiced ophthalmology for over a decade before becoming involved in politics
- 04.Her party PKR grew from a small reform movement to become one of Malaysia's major opposition parties under her leadership
- 05.She is one of only two women in Malaysian history to have led a parliamentary political party