Angkatan Wanita Sedar

Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS; Conscious Women's Front) was the first nationalist women's organisation in Malaysia. It was established in late 1945 as women's wing of the Malay Nationalist Party (Malay: Partai Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya, PKMM). Aishah Ghani was the first president of AWAS.[1] The organisation was also led by Shamsiah Fakeh. At its peak, AWAS had a membership of 2000 women. The group organised, held discussions and hosted Indonesian women visitors. AWAS members, led by Sakinah Junid,[2] participated in a six-mile protest march against the British prohibition disallowing the use of motorised vehicles in processions.[3]

Anthropologist Wazir Jahan Karim attributes the impetus for the creation of AWAS to the core leaders of the organisation: Ghani, Sakinah Junid, and Samsiah Fakeh.[4]

On 22 February 1947, AWAS joined the People's Action Centre (PRINCE), a coalition of six left-wing political parties led by Ishak Haji Muhammad (Pak Sako). Following the defeat of Japan, the British Military Administration resumed control of Malaya and banned AWAS in 1948.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Heng, Geraldine (1997). "A Great Way to Fly". Feminist Genealogies, Colonial Legacies, Democratic Futures. New York: Routledge. pp. 36–37. ISBN 978-0-415-91212-9.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mohamad, Maznah; Ng, Cecilia; Hui, tan beng (2013). Feminism and the Women's Movement in Malaysia: An Unsung (R)evolution. Routledge. pp. 17–18. ISBN 978-1-134-18883-3.
  3. ↑ Lai Suat Yan (2012). "The women's movement in peninsular Malaysia". Social Movement Malaysia. Routledge. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-136-00326-4.
  4. ↑ Wazir Jahan Karim. "Malay Women's Movements, Leadership and Processes of Change". Int. Soc. Science Journal 35 (4): 719–731.