Press statement by Teresa Kok, Member of Parliament for Seputeh and senior exco of Selangor at Kuala Lumpur on 3rd October 2012
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is unfit to hold the position of Minister of Women, Family and Community Development as his statement that Malaysia doesn’t need women’s rights movement and women have been given equal rights from the start show his utter ignorance about women’s struggle and issues in the country.
The reason Malaysian women have been allowed to cast vote since the first general election in the country was because it was the practice of most countries in the world at that time.
It was women’s rights groups that have guided and pressured the government and the society in general to improvise the rights of women, including equal pay of men and women in government and private sectors, formulation of Domestic Violence Act, establishing the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, gender budgeting and various other changes that involve women, to eliminate violence and discrimination against women and to bring awareness to the Malaysian society.
Eventually, in 2001 the Federal Constitution was amended to include the word “gender” into Article 8 to make discrimination against women unconstitutional. This amendment was not “gifted” to women as groups working to advance their rights and dignity had to work hard for many years to force this change and have laws codified to protect women’s interests.
According to Social Institution and Gender Index (SIGI), Malaysia is only placed 43 out of 146 countries in the world in 2011. This shows that we are still far behind many in the world in terms of gender equality.
Many women in Malaysia also still lag behind men in many socio-economics equations.
Since Najib took over the post of Minister of Women, Family and Community Development portfolio in April this year, we hardly see him making any statements that promote rights and well-being of women in Malaysia, as compare to his predecessor Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Najib’s statement during the 50th National Women’s Day Celebration shows that he is in the dark over women’s issues. He’s absolutely clueless about the promotion of women’s rights and status in the country.
The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has even seemed forgotten that the Malaysia Women’s Day falls on 25th August 2012 and there were no celebration nor any important statements being made on that auspicious day as compared to previous years. Only celebrating Women’s Day five weeks after the official date shows how much “urgency” Najib places on this portfolio.
On our part we have launched the manifesto of Pakatan Rakyat for women in Malaysia, i.e “Women’s Agenda Malaysia” that spells out our policies and concern for women.
I urge Najib to resign as Minister of Women, Family and Community Development and appoint another woman to hold this position, as a gesture to show his respect for women.
Teresa Kok
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妇女日庆典宣称大马不需女权运动
郭素沁抨纳吉对妇女运动懵然不知
（吉隆坡3日讯）民主行动党全国妇女组秘书郭素沁认为，首相纳吉不配担任妇女丶家庭与社会发展部长，因为纳吉表示大马女性一早已获得平等权益，所以马来西亚不需女权运动；纳吉这番谈话，证明他对我国妇女斗争与问题懵然不知。
她说，我国妇女在第一届选举即有投票权，是因为当时世界多数国家已经这样做。
“妇权组织的领导与压力，迫使政府与社会接受妇女权利，包括在政府部门与私人领域实行男女同酬丶拟定反家暴法令丶成立妇女家庭与社会发展部丶预算女性开支，以及做出各种改变，消除妇女所承受的暴力与歧视，唤醒社会的平权意识。”
她表示，联邦宪法最终在2001年修改，把“性别”字眼加入第8条文，把歧视妇女列为违反宪法行为；这项修改不是给予妇女的“恩赐”，而是民间组织争取妇女权益与地位的成果。
也是士布爹区国会议员的郭素沁今天发表文告说，女性们经过多年的努力，才得以修改法律，保护女权。
她指出，社会组织与性别指数（SIGI）显示，在2011年，马来西亚在146个国家中排名43，显示我国在两性平权方面，仍然远远落后很多国家；而我国妇女在社会与经济平权等各方面，仍然落后男士。
“相较于前任妇女丶家庭与社会发展部长莎丽扎，纳吉从今年4月接任以来，我们很少看到他提倡马来西亚妇女权益与福利。”
她批评纳吉在全国妇女日50周年庆典的“大马不需女权运动”谈话，显示纳吉对妇女问题懵然不知；对於如何提倡国内妇女权益与地位，纳吉更是完全没有思路。
她说，由纳吉兼掌的妇女丶家庭与社会发展部，甚至已忘记2012年8月25日是马来西亚妇女节；相对于去年，当天没有庆典，纳吉也没有发表重要声明。
郭素沁表示，纳吉在相隔约5一週之后才庆祝妇女节，显示这个节日在纳吉心目中是何等“重要”。
她说，反观民联，在当天发表马来西亚妇女宣言──《马来西亚妇女议程》，阐明民联的政策与对妇女的关怀。
“我敦促纳吉辞去妇女丶家庭与社会发展部长职，并委任另一位妇女担任这个职位，以示对妇女的尊敬。”