Source: http://www.therocket.com.my/en/politics-fairer-half-to-the-fore/
Post-March 2008 a new political landscape has evolved, especially for women’s involvement in politics. Serdang Member of Parliament and DAP assistant publicity secretary Teo Nie Ching has experienced these changes firsthand, having been a beneficiary of this new wave in politics. Yet she also knows of the many challenges a woman elected representative faces in her quest to serve the constituents and the nation. She tells the Rocket’s T.K Tan why:
What do women want, politically speaking? A loaded question for many perhaps, but Teo sees it with clarity.
“It depends on the women’s age and marital status. If they are before 30 years old and single, their concerns would centre on job opportunities and social mobility prospects,” Teo started.
“For the married ones, naturally their families and family-related issues would be their top concern. Quality education for their children, childcare amenities and related benefits, basic amenities and necessities comes to mind. But regardless of these different concerns, often the common worries are public safety and being treated with dignity at home and in the workplace. Domestic violence and rapes are tragically a frequent occurrence in Malaysia.”
Teo, a trained lawyer, states that the available forms of legal protection for and treatment of women in Malaysia are grossly insufficient. “As an example, sexual harassment; Malaysia has yet to enact a comprehensive sexual harassment legislation as of 2011. It is only covered in parts in the Penal Code, Employment Act 1955, and the Industrial Relations Act 1967,’ she remarked.
“Another aspect of legal neglect we can see is regarding job compensation, namely the concept of ‘equal job, equal pay’. Many would not dispute that women in Malaysia do most of the hard work, yet get paid less compared with their male counterparts. This ‘equal pay for work of equal value by women’ concept has been practised in the UK since 1970. Unfortunately for us, Malaysia has yet to even consider enacting it,” Teo expounded.
The Malaysian public childcare amenities and facilities are mostly non-existent. Some studies have shown that many women after age 35 and married with children tend to drop out from the workforce. “They are forced to retire to take care of their children. Not many of us can afford to hire domestic maids to take care of the children.” Indeed, the proverbial glass ceiling adage for women in workplace is self-imposed as much as it is external imposition.
Malaysia’s women employment participation rate, currently at 46 percent, is relatively low compared with some of its neighbours such as Thailand (70 percent) and Singapore (56 percent). An 2010 UNDP Asia Pacific Human Development report on gender equality reported that if Malaysia can increase its female labour participation rate to 70 percent, the country could potentially see a 2.9 percent increase in annual GDP growth rates.
“If Malaysia can increase its female workforce participation, the country’s economic growth can be increased substantially. It would help to improve the people’ living standards. However, the current macro environment is not conducive for more women to work in,” she elaborated.
Getting Their Attention
Politics, being a direct avenue to affect changes for women, has proven to be a bane for meaningful female participation. Female representation in politics in Malaysia is low. Currently there are 24 women Member of Parliaments (MP), around 11 percent of the total number of MPs. As a result many of the women and gender-related legislations are put on the backburner.
The general perception that politics is dirty and it’s a men’s playing field is unfortunately entrenched in many women’s thinking. Teo believes women in Malaysia need to change their preconceived mindsets and rise up to the political challenge to speak up for women issues and formulate policies and legislation of this country that will better address women-related issues.
“Post 2008, the younger generation of women are generally enthusiastic about politics and its workings. However, the older womenfolk have yet to engage politics deeply. The housewives may talk more about politics now; however it’s quite another of matter for them to volunteer for political work. For most, their families are still their main concerns,” she stated.
“Herein lays our challenge: raising the women’s political interest that will eventually lead to a bigger pool of political workers and qualified candidates. We have attempted to recruit more suitable candidates in our contact loops. Malaysian women are definitely not less qualified or educated than the men. However the women need to demonstrate the willingness to take up this challenge to serve the country.”