Che Halimahton binti Abdul Majid (1920–1980s) was a Malaysian politician. She was the first woman elected to the Federal Legislative Council, serving from 1955 to 1959.
Biography Halimahton was born in the Kampung Baru area of Kuala Lumpur in 1920.John Victor Morais (1973) Who's who Malaysia & Guide to Singapore, p102 She was educated at the Methodist Girls' School and later studied domestic science in Cambridge. She married Mohamad Baba, while her sister Ton Puan married Ghazali Shafie, who later served as a minister.Secret of success of an envoy's wife The Straits Times, 19 August 1963 A keen sportswoman, she played hockey and badminton.Onn Defends Malay Women The Straits Times, 28 January 1949Malay women make history The Straits Times, 27 April 1949
Entering political activism, Halimahton organised a women's protest against the proposed Malayan Union during a visit by British officials in 1946.Independance [sic] & Inter-Dependence ICYM The following year she joined the committee of the new Malay Girls' School in Kuala Lumpur.Girl's college to open in K.L. The Straits Times, 3 August 1947 She became head of the Negri Sembilan branch of the United Malays National Organisation (UNMO) in 1949.Mothers of substance The Star, 20 August 2007
In the 1955 general elections, Halimahton was nominated as the UNMO candidate for Ulu Selangor. The only female candidate in the election,A spirit princess in polls campaign The Straits Times, 20 July 1955 she defeated her Parti Negara opponent to become the first woman MP.Assorted measures needed to empower women Penang Monthly, February 2015 She did not contest the seat in the 1959 elections.
Having formerly been chairman of Keretapi Tanah Melayu, her husband was appointed High Commissioners Malaysia to Pakistan in 1962, with the couple relocating to Karachi.New envoy is off... The Straits Times, 27 September 1962 In 1966 he was appointed to the same role in Australia.Ex-Karachi envoy for Canberra The Straits Times, 20 May 1966
She died in the 1980s.They dared take up public office The Star, 20 August 2007
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