Dr Siti's political career
NST (Date Unknown): When she is not talking about medicine with her students, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud would be talking to other people what ails society.
While most working women take breaks from their careers to spend time with families, Dr Siti is taking a break from her job as a medical lecturer to be active in politics.
Dr Siti, who won the Kota Raja parliamentary seat on a Pas ticket on March 8, said: " "I'm happy that 13 women MPs had made it to parliament. Of the four women candidates from Pas, three were elected. That is an achievement as 50 per cent of our country's population are women."
Dr Siti said apart from championing women's issues in parliament, she will also fight for other causes.
"My electorates do not comprise only women. I have to take everyone's interest at heart and try to solve their problems."
Dr Siti, whose husband is an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, has six children (aged between 16 and 29) and two grandchildren.
"Although I do not want my children to get involved in politics, I give them the freedom to decide their future," she said.
Question and Answer Session
Q: Where is your birthplace?
A: I was born in Pokok Sena, Kedah.
Q: What about your education?
A: I went to secondary school in Pokok Sena and I later studied at Kolej Tunku Kurshiah Seremban. I then received a scholarship to do medicine in Cairo, Egypt.
Q: Tell us about your career.
A: After graduation, I was posted to several government hospitals. Later, I opted to become a lecturer in physiology. I went on to do my masters in human & applied physiology in the United Kingdom.
Q: When did you enter politics?
A: I resigned from my job and joined Pas in 1977. I was appointed as the information chief of the women's wing in 1999 and the late Pas president Datuk Fadzil Noor appointed me to the central committee in 2000. I am now a member in the central committee and also the women's wing.
Q: How do you like the people to call you?
A: I feel awkward when people address me as Yang Berhormat. I am comfortable if they call me Dr Mariah or Kak Mariah.
Q: What are the issues that you are concerned about?
A: Crime, flash floods, clogged drains due to the rapid development. I also found out that my constituency is below sea level.
Q: Have you set up your service centre?
A: Yes, it is in Taman Sentosa Perdana. We will move in after the opening ceremony soon. I have three full time assistants. One of them is a non-Malay.
Q: What do you do during your free time?
A: I don't have much free time now. Before I was elected, I used to read books and reading is my obsession.
Q: What books do you read?
A: I read political books, autobiographies and philosophy.
Q: Do you have a blog?
A: I am too busy to have one.
Q: How much time do you spend on your computer?
A: Before I was elected, I used to spend the whole morning but now I have little time to do so.
Q: What are the languages you speak?
A: Bahasa Malaysia, English and a little bit of Arabic.
Q: What is your contribution in protecting the environment?
A: I separate the rubbish and throw them into an organic dump at the back of my house. I have inculcated this habit into my children as well. They never throw rubbish around if they are out of the house.
Q: What type of music do you listen to?
A: Sentimental and evergreen.
Q: Do you like to watch movies?
A: I love movies which are family oriented with values and also detective movies which need a lot of thinking.
While most working women take breaks from their careers to spend time with families, Dr Siti is taking a break from her job as a medical lecturer to be active in politics.
Dr Siti, who won the Kota Raja parliamentary seat on a Pas ticket on March 8, said: " "I'm happy that 13 women MPs had made it to parliament. Of the four women candidates from Pas, three were elected. That is an achievement as 50 per cent of our country's population are women."
Dr Siti said apart from championing women's issues in parliament, she will also fight for other causes.
"My electorates do not comprise only women. I have to take everyone's interest at heart and try to solve their problems."
Dr Siti, whose husband is an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, has six children (aged between 16 and 29) and two grandchildren.
"Although I do not want my children to get involved in politics, I give them the freedom to decide their future," she said.
Question and Answer Session
Q: Where is your birthplace?
A: I was born in Pokok Sena, Kedah.
Q: What about your education?
A: I went to secondary school in Pokok Sena and I later studied at Kolej Tunku Kurshiah Seremban. I then received a scholarship to do medicine in Cairo, Egypt.
Q: Tell us about your career.
A: After graduation, I was posted to several government hospitals. Later, I opted to become a lecturer in physiology. I went on to do my masters in human & applied physiology in the United Kingdom.
Q: When did you enter politics?
A: I resigned from my job and joined Pas in 1977. I was appointed as the information chief of the women's wing in 1999 and the late Pas president Datuk Fadzil Noor appointed me to the central committee in 2000. I am now a member in the central committee and also the women's wing.
Q: How do you like the people to call you?
A: I feel awkward when people address me as Yang Berhormat. I am comfortable if they call me Dr Mariah or Kak Mariah.
Q: What are the issues that you are concerned about?
A: Crime, flash floods, clogged drains due to the rapid development. I also found out that my constituency is below sea level.
Q: Have you set up your service centre?
A: Yes, it is in Taman Sentosa Perdana. We will move in after the opening ceremony soon. I have three full time assistants. One of them is a non-Malay.
Q: What do you do during your free time?
A: I don't have much free time now. Before I was elected, I used to read books and reading is my obsession.
Q: What books do you read?
A: I read political books, autobiographies and philosophy.
Q: Do you have a blog?
A: I am too busy to have one.
Q: How much time do you spend on your computer?
A: Before I was elected, I used to spend the whole morning but now I have little time to do so.
Q: What are the languages you speak?
A: Bahasa Malaysia, English and a little bit of Arabic.
Q: What is your contribution in protecting the environment?
A: I separate the rubbish and throw them into an organic dump at the back of my house. I have inculcated this habit into my children as well. They never throw rubbish around if they are out of the house.
Q: What type of music do you listen to?
A: Sentimental and evergreen.
Q: Do you like to watch movies?
A: I love movies which are family oriented with values and also detective movies which need a lot of thinking.
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