{
  "id": 18229376,
  "title": "Memposisikan Wan Azizah dalam memori Malaysia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/memposisikan-wan-azizah-dalam-memori-malaysia-18229376",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T01:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2026/11/05/memposisikan-wan-azizah-dalam-memori-malaysia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pierre Nora, a renowned French philosopher and historian, believes that there is a strong connection between history and memory. Yet, he insists that in many cases, memory is more essential and often surpasses history. This is because memory is a search for objective truth or a recollection of how it really happened, whereas history is not independent of memory and sometimes needs to be controlled. History is often ideologically driven and can be manipulated. Nora's ideas about the tension between memory and history are found in many of his works, such as The Present Nation Memory; Between Memory and History. Problems of Memory Places; World Celebration of Memory; History as Protection from Politics; and in his most famous work, Places of Memory. Nora's preference for memory over history, despite him being a historian, stems from his desire to refine history by removing certain facts. These historical facts have been manipulated by political agendas, and only collective memory can rectify this. In his academic work, Nora emphasizes how political movements, national identity consolidation, and certain groups' agendas can tarnish history. The real task of a historian is to preserve or protect this memory. This is why Nora launched his concept known as Places of Memory. However, the challenge of correcting history by seeking true memory is not easy, considering that memory itself is fragmented, and traditions may fade or disappear, and innovation takes over, gradually eroding the collective memory. Nora states that true memory comes from memory places or mnemonic places, which form the space of memory. He interprets the concept of places of memory (lieu de memoire) as a significant phenomenon, whether apparent or not, that has been shaped by social interest or time's influence into a symbol of heritage for the nation. Collective memory is formed through this trace memory that manifests as a physical object, function, and symbol. Memory traces in the form of objects include monuments, statues, memorials, road signs, commemorative events, street names, and more. Memory that has disappeared requires memory traces to be remembered and to cleanse its history anew. Something becomes history only after memory ends, as long as memory is collectively erased, it has not yet become history, even if it happened in the past. In other words, history will always remain alive if it is constantly remembered. It is important to remember that Nora's concept of memory traces is often misunderstood as a physical place, but it has lost its place and become a symbol, sign, or trace. I believe the name Wan Azizah Wan Ismail should always remain in the memory of Malaysia while she is alive and breathing. She has a place in national memory. I fear placing her in history, as history can be manipulated by the winner. History can be altered by the ruling party. History can be suppressed. However, memory, like the example of Yazid bin Muawiyah, who tried to suppress the history of the Prophet's grandson, failed. This is because Zaynab al Kubra, Fatimah's daughter and Ali's wife, kept the memory of her brother alive with vigor and beauty. This made the betrayal eternal. History has shown that women in the Malay world are not a passive group or mere followers of someone's leadership success. Among the facts from the Malay world's history, a notable female figure is Pramodawardhana, a Queen responsible for the inclusive development of the Majapahit Kingdom and Borobudur. From the kingdom era to the independence struggle era and the modern digital era, Malay women have played a significant role as leaders, diplomats, educators, entrepreneurs, sociocultural thinkers, and chief pillars of national harmony. During times of societal crisis, women have proven to be the saviors, such as Tengku Ampuan Intan Tengku Alang Hussain, who served as the Yang Di Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan between 1869-1872 during the power struggle. Similar figures will appear in our time, with the name Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. As the deputy prime minister (2018-2020) and head of the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (MWFC), Wan Azizah has launched the National Action Plan to Address the Roots of Early Marriage (2020-2025). This plan encompasses a comprehensive strategy based on five primary roots identified through in-depth research, such as socio-economic poverty, lack of access to education, reproductive health information gaps, legal loopholes, and societal perception and stigma. I imagine how the memory of Wan Azizah could be nurtured and given life as long as she breathes. The memory could be enlivened when these five roots are continuously studied and solutions provided by a university. We academic scholars study and provide solutions in her name. It's a bonus. Another key point in empowering women's struggle, which Wan Azizah always emphasized, is the recognition of the need for appropriate social security for the housewife group. Under her, a program called i-Su was born.",
  "summary": "Saya selalu mengangankan atau mencita-citakan agar nama Wan Azizah Wan Ismail terlekat dalam memori Malaysia di saat beliau masih bernafas dan masih hidup.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}