Kota Kinabalu: Two prominent Sabahans have been recognised as among Malaysia’s top achievers in a new book that explores how successful women balance career, marriage and motherhood.
Former Sabah State Library Director cum and Malaysia’s first female President of both the Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan Municipal Councils, Datuk Adeline Leong, joins Lt Colonel Patricia Yapp from Sandakan, the country’s first female jet fighter pilot, as featured personalities in “To Have It All” by Professor Puan Sri Paduka Dr Jamilah Ariffin.
The book profiles 20 accomplished Malaysian women from diverse fields, including politics, academia, business, civil service, medicine, military and law enforcement.
Notable figures include Federal Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh, former High Court Judge Tan Sri Datuk Zainun Ali and Malaysia’s first female Major General Datuk Major General Fadzlette Othman Merican.
Author Prof Jamilah, a Development Studies expert from University of Malaya who has penned 17 books on women’s development, brings unique insights from her academic work and community service.
During her 17 years in Johor, she established 66 daycare centres for children with disabilities and training programmes for single mothers.
The book addresses a pressing national concern Malaysia’s declining birth rate, which has reportedly dropped to 1.6 children per woman well below the 2.1 replacement level needed to sustain population growth.
Jamilah attributes this trend to changing life priorities, with motherhood becoming a choice rather than expectation, preferences for smaller families and rising infertility rates.
“To Have It All” offers practical guidance on managing work-life balance, stress management and the importance of family support systems.
The author draws comparisons between successful Malaysian women and their counterparts in the United States, China and Hong Kong.
The book targets a broad readership, including policymakers, educators, employers, researchers, parents and young women aspiring to excel in their careers while maintaining family life.
The book is available through I-Resolve Foundation at iresolvefoundation@gmail .com
