Zaleha Ismail

Tan Sri Zaleha binti Ismail (18 May 1936 – 14 November 2020) was a Malaysian politician. She served as the Minister of National Unity and Community Development from 1995 to 1999.

She joined UMNO in 1968 and later became part of its Supreme Council. Zaleha was active in politics for 30 years. She first ran in the 1978 general election for the Permatang seat in the Selangor State Assembly. Later, she served as a Member of Parliament for Tanjong Karang (1982–1986), Selayang (1986–1995), and Gombak (1995–2004). She was Deputy Transport Minister from 1987 to 1995.

In 1995, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad appointed her Minister of National Unity and Community Development. In the 1999 general election, she won against PAS candidate Hatta Ramli by 803 votes.

On 14 November 2020, Zaleha died from health complications at 8:15 pm at Tawakkal Hospital in Kuala Lumpur. She was 84 years old.