UKM to establish academic research platform named after Dr Wan Azizah

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Yayasan Aman are planning to establish an academic research platform named after the former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. This recognition came about through the signing of a Letter of Intent by both parties. Dr Mohd Faizal Musa, the Malay World and Civilisation (ATMA) Research Fellow, explained that Dr Wan Azizah was chosen due to her prominent status, particularly during her term as Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister from 2018 to 2020.

Dr Wan Azizah's notable contributions to social protection for women include the introduction of the EPF i-Suri programme, which recognized homemakers, single mothers, widows, and unmarried women in the eKasih system for their contributions to families and the economy. This initiative, launched in August 2018, led to the registration of over 111,000 women within the first year.

Additionally, Dr Wan Azizah addressed the issue of underage marriage by creating the National Strategic Plan to Address the Causes of Underage Marriage (2020-2025), which aimed to strengthen laws and improve support systems for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and mental distress. She also played a role in developing the first draft of the Sexual Harassment Act and enhancing laws to protect children from sexual predators.

Dr Wan Azizah's medical background, including her medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and postgraduate training in ophthalmology, further emphasizes her diverse expertise. The establishment of this research platform is expected to foster further academic research, scholarly publications, and social initiatives in various fields such as leadership, economics, medicine, arts, culture, and social policy development.