An Ordinary Woman...

... in extraordinary circumstances. Dr Jemilah Mahmood opens up about what keeps her tethered to humanity even in the face of the most insurmountable adversities out on the field.

- Poon Li-Wei

Before we begin the interview, Dr Jemilah Mahmood would like to make one thing clear: underneath the viral stories and the seemingly heroic deeds that have us Malaysians cheering for her – there is a lot of sorrow, heartache, and lost lives. Experiences that still choke her up to this very day, which she can’t seem to bring herself to talk about. She’s not a hero, she stresses. She’s simply a woman who had the seed of charitable kindness instilled in her by her parents from a very young age. “They helped many people quietly in their own way. Our home was like a transit camp for families who did not have homes or jobs. I remember postMay 13, 1969, my parents would make me and my brother distribute some food to neighbours to share what we had,” she reminisces. Not to mention, after her father passed away, her mother would send her to Singapore to stay with relatives who were less fortunate – entrusting her with some money to ensure the younger children had books and school uniforms. “When you are exposed to this from a young age, you can easily share what you have. Generosity is not an afterthought but is seen as part of everyday life.”

THE OFFICIAL INITIATION