No limits for women in leadership, says young political figure
Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Nurul’Ain Balqis Munir, a young political leader, balances her roles as a wife, mother, entrepreneur, and politician, challenging the notion that leadership is incompatible with personal responsibilities.
- She believes women can play significant roles in societal development if given opportunities, support, and space to grow as leaders, drawing strength from her diverse life experiences.
- Munir's journey into politics began unexpectedly, driven by encouragement to contribute to society, and she views leadership as a responsibility to listen, understand, and assist the community.
Balancing the demanding roles of wife, mother, entrepreneur, and political leader is a challenge many women face, but for Nurul’Ain Balqis Munir, each responsibility serves as an opportunity to learn, lead, and contribute to society. Many perceive leadership, especially in politics, as requiring such high commitment that it becomes difficult to balance with being a wife, mother, or working woman. The constant demands of attending programs, engaging with the community, and fulfilling leadership duties often necessitate significant sacrifices of time and energy, deterring many women from stepping into these roles.
This perception inadvertently creates a narrative that leadership is too demanding for women who must simultaneously manage personal and professional commitments. Consequently, fewer young women feel empowered to take on leadership responsibilities due to the perceived challenges and societal expectations. However, Nurul’Ain, the Youth Chief of Srikandi Muda Bersatu in Ampang, views these challenges not as limitations but as opportunities. She firmly believes that women are capable of playing a substantial role in societal development if provided with the necessary opportunities, support, and a conducive environment to flourish as leaders.
Beyond managing her household and raising three daughters, Nurul’Ain also runs a beauty business and supports her husband, a fitness coach, keeping her life filled with diverse responsibilities. For her, each role holds unique value in shaping her understanding of societal realities. Her experiences as a mother, entrepreneur, and active community member have made her particularly sensitive to the challenges faced by women today. "Although my life is full of various commitments, my involvement in politics began unexpectedly," she shared with Seri. "It started when I received encouragement from someone very close to me who believed in my ability to contribute to society."
Her engagement in politics led her to see leadership not merely as a position or title, but as a profound responsibility to listen, understand, and help the community to the best of her ability. She believes everyone has the potential to make a positive impact, regardless of background or experience. The crucial elements, she emphasizes, are the willingness to learn, consider others' perspectives, and strive to benefit the community. Her experience managing a family has taught her invaluable lessons in patience and tolerance.
Although my life is full of various commitments, my involvement in politics began unexpectedly. It started when I received encouragement from someone very close to me who believed in my ability to contribute to society.
Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.