Pioneering airwomen who broke barriers in the control tower

Free Malaysia Today

01-06-2025

The first batch of the airwomen at their passing out parade in 1973.
PETALING JAYA : When Christine Lim wanted to join the Royal Malaysian Air Force 53 years ago, her late father was against it.
He reminded her of the old Chinese saying 'good men don't become soldiers.'
Unconvinced, Lim pressed ahead and landed a job as an air traffic controller with the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
Her father eventually relented, with reservations. But Lim never looked back, going on to a 23-year career as an air traffic controller, retiring with the rank of sergeant.
It was an achievement, something to be proud of – but with one regret.
Christine Lim.
'Unfortunately, my father was not around to see my career take off. He died a year after I became an airwoman,' Lim told FMT in an interview in conjunction with the 67th Air Force Day today.
The entry of Lim and her colleagues, the first women in the RMAF, was a significant milestone in the history of Malaysian military aviation, laying the groundwork to promote inclusivity and support for women in military roles.
Today, women join the RMAF in various trades, even becoming fighter pilots. It has become a norm – but that was far from the case in 1972.
Christine Lim on the job at the air traffic control centre.
Most parents could not fathom the thought of their daughters donning military attire and undergoing the tough physical training.
Rasaletchumi Ratnasingam.
Retired major Rasaletchumi Ratnasingam, who hailed from a conservative Indian family, is an example. Her parents tried to dissuade her from her intention to join RMAF as it was not traditionally a feminine field.
'Eventually I managed to convince them to let me go for the interview, by saying I may not be accepted. But I was selected to be trained as an air traffic control officer. My parents eventually came to terms with it. In fact they witnessed my successful career in the RMAF.'
Rasaletchumi, was one of the first two female cadets commissioned as RMAF officers in 1975, when she was still in her early 20s. Her career culminated as the commanding officer of the joint air traffic control centre at Subang airport.
Siti Salmiah Abu Bakar, also among the first batch of airwomen, faced no objection from her mother even though her mother had lost her police officer husband at a young age in 1956 during the communist insurgency.
Siti Salmiah Abu Bakar.
'I was only two then and my mum struggled to bring me up. But she encouraged me when I decided to join the air force. I was offered a post in logistics.
'My mother was full of pride each time she saw me in my uniform,' said Salmiah, who retired as a sergeant.
For Pushparanee Seevaratanam it was a case of plain sailing because her father, an ex-serviceman, and mother were very supportive of her aspirations which gave her all the confidence to step forward and serve.
'Although it was mostly a male-dominated society back then, I never saw it as a barrier. I believed that with dedication and hard work, women could stand equally alongside men,' she said, adding that serving the nation against all odds was a fulfilling experience.
Pushparanee Seevaratanam (standing, 5th from left) says airwomen were treated with respect even though they were outnumbered by their male colleagues.
Not a job of last resort
Rasaletchumi said she had many other job opportunities, including those of teacher, newscaster and flight attendant. But the allure of being part of the armed forces, thanks to the movies she watched, made for an easy decision.
'When the opportunity to join the armed forces came, I grabbed it. I was attracted to it as I wanted a challenging career that was something different from the norm.'
Rasaletchumi Ratnasingam, Siti Salmiah Abu Bakar and Pushparanee Seevaratanam in their uniforms when they started their career in the RMAF.
Lim had been headed for a career in accountancy after her SPM examination but decided to venture into the unknown after seeing an advertisement for recruitment of women into the RMAF.
She said her experience as a member of the Red Cross Society who volunteered to help victims of the May 13 riots in 1969, and the great floods of Kuala Lumpur in 1971, had a major influence on her to join the armed forces.
Pushparanee Seevaratanam.
Pushparanee said jobs were not too difficult to find at that time but she still chose the air force because she had always had a passion for adventure, discipline, and serving the country.
'I wanted a life that was meaningful and challenging, and something to break the barrier then. It wasn't just about employment, it was about being part of something bigger, and to serve the nation,' she said. She was in the administration department.
All four of them spoke passionately of how the inter-ethnic harmony was the cornerstone with no one hesitating to help others during difficult moments especially when undergoing basic military training.
'We were so united and relationships were better during that time. We were truly Malaysians in our quest to serve the nation,' said Lim.