The day she was sworn in as president of the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) in 2011, Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif was confronted with the mammoth challenge ahead of her - as the first female council president in the township’s 18-year history.
“After the swearing in ceremony, a reporter approached three people to gather their reactions on the appointment of a female council president. Two were women heads of departments who said they were happy to see a woman at the top. They were positive and said they were looking forward to the changes I would bring and that they would be behind me all the way. The third person was a male councillor... his response I will never forget. He said: ‘I don’t mind working with a lady just as long as she can do her job!’.