Tribute to a Sabah woman icon
Published on: Tuesday, June 18, 2024
.jpg "Tribute to a Sabah woman icon")
Liew (top left), Noni (middle left) and from left: Adeline, Mama Anne, Datin Leena Toyoi and Datuk Zahra Ismail. Ariah (middle).
Kota Kinabalu: Tributes poured in for late Datuk Ariah Tengku Ahmad from present and past women leaders as a pioneer role model and source of inspiration to women of her era whether in education, sports or social services.
She passed away on Sunday at age 86.
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State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew who knew Ariah since the Parti Bersatu Sabah administration days in the mid-80s said she found Ariah who became Malaysia’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister under PBS, as visionary, a woman of principle and integrity.
Liew, who herself became Sabah’s first Chinese woman Deputy CM decades later, said: “Many of us were toddlers when Ariah (then known as Irene Pritchard) started to contribute significantly to British North Borneo (now Sabah) as one of the top women athletes in the fifties and sixties.
“We acknowledge her as an epitome of beauty, brains and athletic prowess who brought glory to Sabah as a sprinter, hurdler and long jumper. She was also instrumental in starting women’s hockey in Sabah.
“Her achievements may be history by now but it is preserved in the Sports Gallery of the Sabah State Museum.
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“Similarly, she brought changes to the social service landscape while serving as State Minister of Social Services from the eighties to the nineties.”
Liew said the present generation of women may not be aware that Ariah was the first Miss Jesselton, and one of only two women from North Borneo to be awarded the Colombo Plan Scholarship for education training in New Zealand in the fifties.
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She served as a teacher at St Francis Convent upon graduation and was also post-independence Sabah’s first woman journalist in the Sabah Times.
Retired Deputy State Secretary Datuk Noni Said said Ariah handpicked her to be one of the founding members of the Sabah Women’s Advisory Council (MPWS) more than three decades ago.
Concerned for her deteriorating health, Noni and two friends visited her at her residence just three days ago (June 14).
“I am grateful to have known her and to have learned from her. As a friend and colleague, I have always admired Ariah’s tenacity and her genuine commitment to the socio-economic development of women in Sabah.
“MPWS is Ariah’s brainchild. To translate her vision of empowering women in Sabah into reality, she established MPWS on Aug. 20, 1988, selecting 12 women, including myself, to serve as the ‘think tank’ for women’s economic growth and development.
"We worked very closely to integrate women into the mainstream of development,” she said.
“We made significant progress under her leadership, achieving milestones that have transformed opportunities for women in Sabah.
“She pioneered these initiatives, inspiring many younger women to continue her legacy (Council) which is still an integral part of women’s development in the State.
“Succeeding generations of women, both today and in the future, owe a debt of gratitude to this remarkable woman who paved the way for their advancement and a better quality of life.”
Ariah was a woman of substance who contributed tremendously to Sabah and left a great legacy, said Datuk Adeline Leong who served as Director of the Sabah State Library.
She said when Ariah was the Minister of Social Welfare and Community Development with the Sabah State Library Department under her portfolio, she was instrumental in the construction of five new library buildings in Sandakan, Tawau, Keningau, Papar and Penampang, respectively.
“Despite the challenges, the Minister managed to secure the funding and the land to build these library buildings. It was no small task as these libraries were situated in the town centres.”
Leong, the first Chairperson of the Sabah Women’s Advisory Council (MPWS), has fond memories of Ariah championing women’s rights, culminating in the establishment of the Council in 1988.
“She was very supportive of gender equality and pushed for the agenda to uplift the status of women in Sabah, especially in closing the economic gap between the rural and urban women.
“We will always remember Ariah for her good deeds and for giving her best to Sabah’s development as Deputy Chief Minister,” she said.
Past President of the Sabah Women’s Organisation (Persatuan Wanita Sabah), Datuk Zahra Ismail (1985-2008) extended condolences to the family of Ariah.
Her deep concern for the socio-economic well-being of women in Sabah was reflected in her willingness to take up the challenge to form the organisation in the seventies, when approached by the then Minister of Social Welfare, the late Toh Puan Rahimah Stephens, said Zahra.
“In fact, Ariah served as Protem President for a number of years till Pewasa was registered in 1978, and continued to be our mentor.
“Ariah was committed to bridging the glaring disparity between urban women and their rural sisters. She supported Pewasa’s activities as Minister of Social Services.
“She gave us a lot of advice and encouragement. She was very firm and reminded us to organise programmes for women’s progress in accordance with the objectives laid down in Pewasa’s Constitution.
Her emphasis was on raising the standard of living of rural women in particular.”
President of the Alumni of St Francis Convent School Sabah, Datin Leena Toyoi, said Ariah was a true Franciscan who began her journey at St Francis Convent School after the Second World War.
“After completing her tertiary education overseas, she returned to her alma mater to teach for several years, demonstrating her commitment to education and her dedication to the Franciscan community.
“In 1978, with the encouragement of Rev. Sister St Luke, the Ex- Franciscans’ Association (EFA) was formed. Ariah was elected as the first president, with the late Toh Puan Rahimah Stephens serving as Patron,” she said.
According to Leena, the formation of the EFA was a pivotal moment for the Alumni of St Francis Convent School Sabah (as it is known today).
“The vision and hard work of these pioneering women, led by Ariah, laid the foundation for the robust alumni network that exists today.
“Ariah’s achievements extended beyond education. Her accomplishments brought great honour to St Francis Convent, solidifying her status as one of the most esteemed Franciscans in the school’s over 100-year history.”
Her legacy continues to inspire pride among all Franciscans, and her contributions will be remembered with deep respect and admiration, Leena added.
Bukit Harapan Housemother, Datuk Mama Anne, said Ariah was very touched at the work being done at the Home in providing hope for mentally challenged children.
“I found her to be the best, most dedicated and serious Social Services Minister who would drop by at the Home without informing because she was surprised at how our Home was being run compared to some government-run centres,” said Anne.
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