SHAH ALAM: Dr Halimah Ali, PAS' candidate for the Seri Setia by-election is more than just a politician.
A medical doctor herself, together with her husband Dr Ahmad Supian, they raised six children who have all followed in their footsteps, becoming medical practitioners themselves.
The 58-year-old told NSTP recently that she married her husband and they had three children before she completed her medical degree.
Her youngest child is 26 while her eldest is 38.
She said she had never imposed on her children to take up medicine but all six; Dr Imran Ahmad, Dr Khadejah, Dr Zaid, Dr Zubir, Dr Hafiz and Dr Liyana all excelled in their studies and went on to become doctors.
"Furthermore I have my own practise. I want to pass it on to my children. However the choice is always their own," she said.
Initially, her children attended religious schools and two of them memorise the Quran.
"Some of them are also interested in humanitarian work, they have been to Acheh and Cambodia.
"However because they are still young, they are more focused on building their careers at the moment," Halimah said.
Born in Marudi, Sarawak, Halimah attended the Elizabeth Matriculation College in Hobart and went to further her studies at the University of Tasmania.
She also has a diploma in Islamic Studies (tasawwur) from Ilham.
Halimah previously served at several departments and hospitals, among them University Malaya Medical Centre, Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Shah Alam and Klang Mother and Child Clinic, Subang International Airport health office and Petaling district Health Office.
Halimah was officially named as PAS' Seri Setia by-election candidate today after submitting her papers this morning.
She is set to battle it out for the state seat in a straight fight against Pakatan Harapan's Halimey Abu Bakar.
The by-election was necessitated following the death of its assemblyman Prof Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin on Aug 2.
Polling will take place on Sept 8.