Asean Women Leaders

In Charge

Some were wives to powerful men before coming into their own after their husbands fell while others were groomed for leadership. But whatever their background, these women broke the glass ceiling to lead their country and their people.

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Corazon Aquino

Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister (2018 - 2020)

The Philippines president (1986 to 1992)

Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar state counsellor (2016 to 2021) and politician

Halimah Yacob

Singaporean president (2017 -2023)

Megawati Sukarnoputri

Yingluck Shinawatra

Indonesian president (2001 to 2004)

Thai Prime Minister (2011 to 2014)

Pix: Agencies

Corazon Aquino

The Philippines president (1986 to 1992)

Hailed as the ‘Mother of Democracy’, Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino - popularly known as Cory Aquino - was propelled by the 1986 People Power Revolution to become the Philippines’ 11th and first woman president. The revolution that toppled the 20-year rule of Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos came after the assassination of her husband, Benigno Aquino, who had been critical of the regime. As president, Aquino, a devout Roman Catholic, oversaw the drafting of the 1987 Constitution during her presidency, which limited the powers of the presidency and re-established Congress. She passed away in 2009 at the age of 76, about a year before her own son Benigno Simeon Aquino III, became president.

I don't have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It's always the people who make things happen.

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Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister (2018 - 2020)

Fondly known as Kak Wan, Dr Wan Azizah wasn’t just the country’s 12th and first woman deputy prime minister. She was also the Opposition Leader for two terms; and also a qualified ophthalmologist. That’s an eye surgeon - to you and me. She assumed the land’s second highest post after Pakatan Harapan’s surprise win in the 2018 general election. Even before then, she had been leading Parti Keadilan Nasional - now PKR - as president, only the second woman to head a political party in Malaysia after Ganga Nayar of the Malaysian Workers Party in the 1970s. As adept in wielding the fan - her singular fashion accessory - as the microphone on the gruelling ceramah circuit, Dr Wan Azizah was thrown into political swirl when her husband, the current Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was arrested and jailed for corruption.

Women now see that you can break barriers. It can happen – with a little bit of perseverance, commitment, and belief that you can actually do it.

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Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar state counsellor (2016 to 2021) and politician

While Aung San Suu Kyi’s star has dimmed somewhat in the wake of atrocity allegations against the Rohingya, Myanmar’s most famous political prisoner remains its voice of conscience, especially as her country is currently locked in internal conflict. The daughter of Aung San - the founding Father of Myanmar - was under house arrest for nearly 15 of the 21 years between 1989 and 2010. Despite briefly becoming state counsellor, she was arrested on Feb 1, 2021, in a coup by the military junta after her party, National League for Democracy won in the national polls. This time, she was convicted on corruption charges and jailed for over 25 years in prison. Her life and marriage to Michael Aris were depicted in Luc Besson’s 2011 film The Lady, starring Malaysia’s own Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh.

The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.

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Megawati Sukarnoputri

Indonesian president (2001 to 2004)

The first and only female president of Indonesia - a Muslim majority country -, Diah Permata Megawati Setiawati Sukarnoputri came into power when her predecessor Abdurrahman Wahid was removed from office. However, she has never been far removed from political prominence. After all, Megawati, born on Jan 23, 1947, is the eldest daughter of Indonesia’s first president Sukarno. Although defeated in the 2004 presidential election and again in 2009, Megawati remains influential in politics as head of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), one of the country’s largest political parties.

Women, stand tall in the Republic of Indonesia.

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Halimah Yacob

Singaporean president (2017 -2023)

Of humble background - Halimah used to help her widowed mother sell nasi padang growing up -, the NUS-trained legal eagle, who entered politics in 2001, went on to achieve many firsts. In addition to being the Lion City’s first woman president, she is also the first female Parliament Speaker, and the first Malay president in 47 years - as well as being probably the first one to live in a HDB flat during the initial part of her tenure. Halimah resigned from the political party PAP to run for presidency in 2017 when a constitutional amendment reserved the presidential election for Malay candidates. She won uncontested after her opponents were disqualified.

Women must have their own source of income and they must save for their own retirement to be able to take care of themselves.

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Yingluck Shinawatra

Thai Prime Minister (2011 to 2014)

Yingluck’s ascent to prime ministership was as controversial as her leaving it. Thailand’s first female prime minister - her niece, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is the second - came to power on popular support for her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, and their Pheu Thai Party. Born into a wealthy family, the youngest of nine children was a businesswoman before venturing into politics. However, she was removed by a Constitutional Court decision on May 7, 2014, and following a dramatic escape before a trial on a rice subsidy scheme, has remained in exile overseas.

You might not trust me. Please give me a chance and time. I will prove myself for all of you.

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