Biography: Unsung heroes of Barbara Mendu Bay
Barbara Bay Mendu’s first concerns over women were always her priority.This was evident that she was passionate over women’s rights when she made an important remark - “Wake up! Stop hiding in the kitchen. Follow the steps of other women throughout the world.This is the time for you to open your ey...
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/14492/1/8.pdf |
| Summary: | Barbara Bay Mendu’s first concerns over women were always her priority.This was evident that she was passionate over women’s rights when she made an important remark - “Wake up! Stop hiding in the kitchen. Follow the steps of other women throughout the world.This is the time for
you to open your eyes for the sake of the country”. She was an extraordinary woman with a
character who has a vision. Born in April 1900, she received her early education in St Mary’s School Kuching.After completing her six years of education in 1917, she left school and was selected for a nursing course in Malacca. This made her as one of the first Sarawakians to qualify for nursing and midwifery. Besides, Bay was a key figure in the formation and as founding member of Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS). SIDS is a non-political organization by a group of women in Kuching in 1957.Bay was the first elected President of the Association which determined to bring the different Iban groups (who came from different parts of Sarawak) with the aim of getting to know and help each other.Another substantial attributes about Bay’s political stand was the issue of Malaysia’s independence which in fact that she wanted Sarawak to achieve independent first before the formation of Malaysia; the main reason being that this is to ensure Malaysia is not used a political tool by the British and therefore Sarawak must first achieve her dependency. She clearly indicated her quintessence when she was also a founding
member of SIDS and a founding member of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP).It is also interesting to highlight is the fact that Bay is a Bumiputera but was accepted by all Chinese members of a Chinese dominated political party of
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP). |
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