The petition, initiated on website change.org, was also posted on Facebook by an administrator using Sybil’s name and will be delivered to Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid.
In the Facebook post, Sybil Kathigasu-admin wrote: “Malaysians, do share and sign this. Taking up Prof Datuk Dr Teo Kok Seong’s call for a petition to recognize the contributions of Sybil Kathigasu in Malaysian History Syllabus. #sybil4msia.”
Teo, who is head of the history, heritage and socio-culture cluster of the National Professors Council, had earlier urged that Sybil’s story be made part of the history syllabus at schools.
Sybil and her husband Dr Abdon Clement Kathigasu had operated a clinic in the town of Papan, on the outskirts of Ipoh.
They provided medical services and refuge to resistance fighters during the Japanese occupation in World War 2.
They were arrested in 1943. Sybil endured interrogation and torture at the hands of the Japanese military police, but refused to disclose any information she knew about the resistance campaign.
This was despite her being severely beaten and forced to watch as her daughter was hoisted on a rope from a tree over a bed of burning coals.
Sybil survived the ordeal although her health was severely affected. She died on June 12, 1948, due to the injuries she had sustained.
Last year, Google dedicated a doodle to her to commemorate her 117th birthday.
At the time of writing, 77 people had signed the petition, with 23 more signatures needed to reach the goal of 100.