KUALA LUMPUR: Google Doodle today paid tribute to the late writer, staunch women's rights advocate and cultural icon, Azah Aziz.
The search engine used a caricature of Azah, also known as Mak Ungku, garbed in baju kurung, with her trademark spectacles and holding a book, as the main image on its homepage.
"Today's Doodle celebrates what would have been Azah Aziz's 94th birthday. She spent her life contributing to the preservation of Malaysian art and tradition. Given her legacy, Azah was named Tokoh Budayawan Melayu or figure of Malaysian culture," wrote Google on its Doodles page today.
Azah was known as a writer, women's rights champion as well as a defender of the arts.
Her keen interest in language, culture and the arts had been nurtured by her mother, who was from a distinguished Johor family and a pioneer in domestic science studies.
She also inherited a fine collection of early Malay textiles and garments from her mother which fuelled her passion for the culture that lasted throughout her life and paved the way to becoming a respected Malay culture expert.
Azah, whose real name is Sharifah Azah Syed Mohammad Alsagoff, became a secretary for a newspaper editor-in-chief, eventually moving up the ladder in the field of journalism.
She started Akaz, her own publishing company, where she elevated Malaysian arts and contributed to a number of publications including Malaysia's first Malay daily afternoon tabloid Harian Metro and Malaysia's oldest newspaper New Straits Times.
By the end of her career as a journalist, she founded the Malaysian Women's Journalists Association and became the president of the National Writers Association of Malaysia.
She also published books as well as children's songs and poems, becoming the first woman in Malaysia to do so.
In addition to her work as a writer, Azah was a pioneer for women's rights.
She championed salary equality, separate taxes for working wives, Muslim family amendments and later founded the Islamic Women's Action Organisation.
Throughout the years, she collected antique garments and fabrics from the old Malay world.
With her in-depth knowledge of costume, jewellery and textiles, she lectured about and introduced Malay culture to art festivals and international seminars.
She also wrote a book on the subject titled Rupa dan gaya: Busana Melayu (2006).
Azah spent her life elevating Malaysian customs so its culture could continue to thrive around the world.
For preserving Malay heritage, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree of arts and education.
"Happy birthday, Azah Aziz! You uplifted the status of Malay traditions and will always be remembered for your contributions as a cultural icon," wrote Google.
A short video in honour of Mak Ungku was also published on Google Malaysia's YouTube account.
"On Aug 21, we honour the late Azah Aziz on what would have been her 94th birthday through a Google Doodle. Fondly known as Mak Ungku, she was an advocate of women's rights as well as a renowned and respected Malay culture expert, especially in the field of textiles and traditional attire," Google Malaysia wrote in the video description.
In the video, her daughter, former Bank Negara Malaysia Governor, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Aziz also shared fond memories of her late mother.
Azah died on July 9, 2012, in Kuala Lumpur, at the age of 84.
