KOTA KINABALU – Women are fast gaining recognition for their role in Malaysia’s security, despite misconceptions about their abilities.
In the military, women undergo the same trial by fire as their male counterparts in both training and education.
Rohana Jupri rose through the ranks to become the Royal Malaysian Navy’s first female admiral. Recruited in 1984 and graduating as second lieutenant in 1986, she believes men and women have their own strengths.
“The question of whether a woman can outdo a man in the military is very subjective. The scope of work in the military is wide, and both men and women have their own, different strengths,” she told a forum organised by Universiti Teknologi Mara recently.
“For instance, in the navy, there are many women who graduated in different fields like accounting, public relations and secretarial. There are posts in the military that these women can fill, and I believe we are strong in some areas.
“I have seen our women deployed on missions to countries like Lebanon and Africa’s Congo under the United Nations.”
She said passion has kept her going all these years, and that such a career would not work out for those who join the armed forces without an interest in serving the nation.
“Women can perform well under pressure, and at times, hold more responsibilities than their male counterparts.”
Rohana, who has held various posts, including commanding officer and first staff, prior to her current position as senior director (materials), said the culture in Malaysia’s military is becoming more open, with women now given equal opportunities to climb up the ranks.
She said she was previously unprepared to hold the post of commanding officer, but she remained optimistic.
Rohana said her current post requires officers with the highest integrity, as they are responsible for handling the navy’s funds and budget.
Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) helicopter pilot Maj Siti Solehah Abdullah said the scope of the military is no longer limited to warfare, and that there are areas in defence requiring “a woman’s touch”.
The flight instructor based in Subang, Selangor, said each time she goes out flying with trainees, she reminds them that the aircraft they are piloting is sensitive machinery.
“I tell them that one small shift of the device can mean one huge turn for the aircraft. So, they have to be soft and gentle while flying the helicopter.
“You see, in the military, it is not just about brute strength, but also about taking soft and gentle approaches that are ‘womanly’,” said Siti Solehah, who hails from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Women in the military are now given equal and important roles, she said.
The most unforgettable experience in her 16 years of flying helicopters was when she had to carry out an emergency landing during operational duty.
“That was my biggest test. We had just taken off from Kuantan heading to Kuala Lumpur, and five or 10 minutes into the flight, I realised abnormalities with the AC instrument.
“I instructed my co-pilots to check the instrument. It was showing zero.
“The thing about a helicopter is that it can land anywhere. In two minutes, I identified a spot and landed safely.”
Years of training ensure pilots remain calm in such a situation and are able to think ahead, she added.
Siti Solehah enrolled in the RMAF College in Kedah in 1998, graduated in 2001, and got her wings to fly helicopters in 2003, before becoming a qualified instructor in 2013.
She has been involved in various operations in the east coast of the peninsula, medical evacuations, and humanitarian missions, including after a tsunami struck Acheh, Indonesia, in 2004.
Throughout the years, she has trained numerous pilots in the air force, military’s air unit, and navy.
Siti Solehah was selected for the Australian Command and Staff Course (Joint) last year, where she graduated with a master’s in military and defence studies at The Australian National University.
Apart from instructing, she also has a role in coordinating exercises between the air force, army and navy.
Maj Siti Nurfahana Mohd Aminuddin from Gombak, Selangor, said joining the armed forces came naturally to her, as her parents are retired military personnel with the rank of major.
She said there is no denying the roles of men and women in the military, but women have an edge in some areas.
The differences between men and women’s abilities can create a dynamic cooperation, she said.
Siti Nurfahana enrolled in the Malaysian Military Academy – now known as Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia – in 2001, and graduated in 2005.
“I was only ‘experimental’ in becoming a pilot, and got my wings in 2007.”
Now, she is attached with the 881 Regiment Malaysian Military Air Team.
In her unit, Siti Nurfarhana serves as a co-pilot. She was platoon leader for the 7th Company before being assigned her current post. – The Vibes, September 26, 2021
