GEORGE TOWN – The lack of reform initiatives related to family, women and children issues in the recent political memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Putrajaya and opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan has not gone unnoticed.
DAP Women’s chief Chong Eng told the Vibes that she wants to propose a similar bipartisan MoU highlighting such issues.
She also questioned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s Keluarga Malaysia concept that he shared in his inaugural speech on August 22.
“I would like to know what the ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ concept is. It must include and benefit women and children, too, because now, I don’t see what women and children are getting from his concept.
“I want to meet him (Ismail Sabri) and strike a deal involving women and children that have clearly been sidelined all these years.”
In this deal, she said she plans to bring up four points, which include Malaysian mothers’ equal rights to confer citizenship to their children, whether born here or abroad.
“This is an issue that has been around since the 1960s. All this time, we cannot get it done.
“It shows that we don’t treat women as equal citizens, and that contradicts the constitution, which states that there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment under public authority.
“Right now, the ministers and decision-makers, most of them are men, and they don’t see the issue from a woman’s perspective.”
She is also calling for the tabling of the sexual harassment bill as soon as possible in the Dewan Rakyat, which Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun has pledged to do.
“Everything (bill of law) is ready, we just have to push it to the finishing line.”
Like what is done in Penang, Chong hopes to implement a gender inclusiveness policy in all states by urging the federal government to withdraw its appeal against the high court decision granting mothers the same status as fathers in the conferment of citizenship to their children, as well as introduce more legislation to protect women from sexual harassment.
She also hopes the federal government will implement a safe-family policy to provide more avenues for domestic violence victims to seek help.
“I want to bring this directly to the prime minister because this is not just a women’s issue – it is a national issue, it is a government issue.
“If I speak to Rina, she is still a minority in a field of men, and she will still have to rally the support of other ministers before she can table it.
“Women make up 48.5% of the population in Malaysia but we have yet to see a minimum of 30% of women at the decision-making level in both the government and private sectors. We do not have 30% of women representation in Parliament either.
“The extremely low representation of women at 12.8% in the cabinet deserves attention.”
In light of this, she hopes that civil society, academicians and human rights activists will continue to highlight these issues.
With more voices for families, women and children, she said the government and opposition cannot say no or delay calls for equality.
Chong said she will bring this to PH’s Women’s wing to build consensus before requesting a meeting with the prime minister. – The Vibes, September 19, 2021
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