The petite-framed freedom fighter, who was the United Malays National Organisation's 315th member, joined the struggle for independence when she was in her 20s. She was head of Kaum Ibu Malaya, later known as Wanita Umno, which is the women's wing of the UMNO. She was the movement's leader for 16 years until 1972. She saw then that there were inadequate facilities and infrastructure for the people under colonial rule, especially for health care and education. She recalled that during her visits to Kota Bharu, she had to wait for the water level to subside before she could cross the river to visit villagers because there were no bridges. Fatimah said that working alongside luminaries such as Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tan Khir Johari and Tun Abdul Razak was a great experience, and they treated each other like family. From an interview in the Malaysian newspaper The Star:
Achieving independence
On Hari Merdeka, 31 August 1957, Fatimah traveled with her three eldest children her husband, the late Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Yusuf, in a car from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur to celebrate Malaya's emergence from British rule. Fatimah attended the ceremony at Stadium Merdeka with her husband. They stayed at the late Tun Sardon Jubir's house in Kuala Lumpur and the couple took the children around the city. From The Star interview, she said: She cried that day in the stadium.
Post-independence
After independence, her husband continued to encourage her to be involved in politics. Abdul Kadir Yusuf, who was then Attorney-General, was in government service and could not be active in politics. He advised her not to sit at home but to continue fighting and help the poor. He became her driver and accompanied her to meetings, something that Tun Abdul Razak used to tease the couple about. Fatimah served as Member of Parliament and later as Welfare Minister in the Malaysian cabinet. At the same time, her husband became the Law Minister, making them the only couple to serve together in the Cabinet of Malaysia.
Social contributions
Fatimah was the founder and former president of the Malaysia's National Council of Women's Organisations, where she headed the organisation for 24 years.
Family
The former Welfare Services minister had six children, 19 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Her eldest daughter, Mariam, was the Director-General of the National Library of Malaysia and is now retired. Her second son, Mohamed Shah, has now retired as Chairman of McDonald's Malaysia, and founder of Ronald McDonald's Charity Club Malaysia. Her third son, Dato Professor Emeritus Dr Khalid Abdul Kadir was previously the director of Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and is now the Head of Clinical School at Monash University Malaysia. Her fourth son Datuk Ali Abdul Kadir is an accomplished accountant who has held such prestigious positions as chairman of Ernst & Young Malaysia, a short stint as chairman of the Securities Commission, and recently retired as Chairman of Dubai Investment Group's Malaysian division. Her fifth son Abdul Karim is in business and adviser to a few public and private companies. Faridah, her youngest daughter is also an adviser to a Denmark based investment bank.
