Written by Wan Azizah's Press Secretary, Sonia Ramachandran*
*A class above*
When I first joined Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah Dr Wan Ismail as her press secretary at the end of May 2018, I had no idea what to expect.
I had only covered her as a journalist before and now I was going to work for her.
So imagine my surprise when I was greeted with a hug on the day I was told I got the job.
That was just the beginning.
From then onwards up to this day, Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah has continued to amaze me with her kindness and grace in everything she does.
She attended the wedding of the child of a cleaner at the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and yet never said a word about it.
I only found out through seeing it in her schedule.
When one of the journalists collapsed during an assignment in another state, she immediately sent money to help with his expenses.
Whenever I was not feeling well, she would call or message to ask if I was ok.
She would also then pass me vitamin C and coconut oil capsules when she saw me next.
When my cousin passed away, she asked if she could also pass me some money for the family. ANONYMOUSLY.
When one of her staff's wife had a serious affliction, Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah was very concerned and immediately sent over stuff that she thought might help.
Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah was down with food poisoning but that didn't stop her from coming in to the office on a weekend to chair a meeting on COVID-19 that lasted hours.
During her birthday, she was busy attending to flood victims in another state.
For her, the rakyat always came first.
In honour of her mother who was a housewife, she initiated i-Suri so that housewives would have a safety net in the case of any eventuality.
Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah would always greet all of us with a smile, and this was so even when she packed her things at her office yesterday.
In fact, she was the one consoling us and telling us not to cry.
Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah was also the humblest of souls.
She would carry her own cup of coffee and notes for meetings although she had many officers accompanying her.
Rarely would she let us help do these things for her, as she said she was used to doing things herself.
She was entitled to a police entourage and yet she always felt guilty for making others stop for her.
Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah always had a moment for us and we could see her whenever we wanted.
She always put everyone else before herself.
Just recently she was offered a cinema hall by a news organisation to watch Ejen Ali where she could bring her staff and family.
Instead she asked if she could bring the disabled from one of the homes under her ministry and she joined them for the screening.
These are just a few examples of the type of woman Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah is.
I am deeply honoured and privileged to have worked with her as her press secretary, not because she was the Deputy Prime Minister of this country, but because she is a truly wonderful human being.
She is indeed, a class above the rest.
Sonia Ramachandran
My comments : Some of you may not agree with all the things that Wan Azizah has achieved. No one is perfect. Her handling of her Ministry, her handling of her party, etc.
But I think all of us Malaysians owe a degree of appreciation for Dato Sri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's role as our Deputy Prime Minister for the past 20 months.
The first woman to have held the position. And in my view she handled her post admirably. Wan Azizah was non controversial in her role. And for a country that was never bereft of excitement in its politics Wan Azizah was a symbol of calmness and patience.
And of course she deserves the Nobel Prize for being an extraordinarily loyal wife.
Do join me folks in expressing our gratitude and appreciation for Dato Sri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who was our first female Deputy Prime Minister for the past 20 months.
Terima kasih Dato Sri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail atas segala sumbangan dan komitmen sebagai Timbalan Perdana Menteri Malaysia.
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