That former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has been freed is certainly reason for us to be joyous and to hope for a better future for Malaysia. However, in the euphoria, I think we must also applaud his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for her courage, fearlessness, humbleness and good grace shown over the past six years.

True, she may not be a first-class debater in Parliament. She may not be the kind of tough and fiery leader we expect from a party of the old-style opposition.

However, the fact that she could weather all the storms as the wife of a man who was wrongly accused of being a sodomist while being the top leader of a multiracial movement during one of the most turbulent periods in Malaysian history speak volumes of her moral quality as a courageous and fearless but still very humble and humane person.

Don't forget: she had to take care of her children too, at the same time.

She wears a 'tudung' and has never lectured Malaysia or the world on theories of women liberation or gender equality. But Wan Azizah practiced these concepts in her daily life during the past six years.

At the risk of being accused as a sycophant, I must say that she is the most modern and liberated woman Malaysia has ever seen; not because of what she has preached but because of what she has done and what she has inspired others to do by her personal example.

Let us salute this brave woman - the wife, mother, fighter and conciliator named Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

She is the pride of all brave Malaysians. Syabas! Kudos!