Irene Xavier

Executive Director of Sabahat Wanita, Irene Xavier, is a paragon of strength and ferocity, having championed the fight against slave trade and the oppression of women. Even now in her seventies, she is resilient to her cause, recognising that although her actions in the past four decades have been impactful, the fight is yet from over as labour inequalities and discrimination still run rampant but undercover in Malaysian society.

As one of the 106 people detained in 1987 under the Internal Security Act during Operation Lalang, Irene has a personal score to settle with the flawed and elite-favouring law. Her involvement with Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS) has enabled her do exactly that as its efforts were largely effective in passing the recent amendments to the Employment Act, the Industrial Relations Act and the Trade Union Act. With its training programs, PSWS also sows into the next cohort of powerful women who can contribute productively to society.

Given Irene’s unabashed approach towards tearing down injustices, she’s been a target for backlash on several occasions. However, she’s remained calm, courageous and unbreakably compassionate throughout it all, refusing to back down from a cause that desperately requires more attention. Across her many news appearances, Irene constantly appeals to her fellow Malaysians to become more aware and to take action against the unjust practices within their society.