Sabah women shocked over exclusion
Published on: Thursday, August 27, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah women hope there is still time for the Prime Minister to include capable ones from among them in the 18-member National Women's Advisory and Consultative Council which he announced on Monday.The announcement on the composition came as a total surprise to the Sabah delegation attending the National Women's Day celebration in Putrajaya.State Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid, said she was not consulted on the matter and neither was the Chairperson of the Sabah Women's Advisory Council (MPWS), Datuk Mariati Robert or the Sabah Women's Affairs Departments (Jhewa), which serves as the Secretariat to MPWS.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Saya terperanjat, (I was surprised). I was listening when the names were called out wondering who among the members are from Sabah. There was none," Jainab said, when contacted, Wednesday. She said she had been getting calls from women and didn't know what to tell them.She noted that one of the Council members is show presenter Daphne Iking, who hails from Sabah. "But it does not make sense because although Daphne comes from Sabah, she does not live here. She resides in Kuala Lumpur and cannot be expected to represent Sabah women effectively."Since the National Women's Advisory and Consultative Council is akin to the Sabah Women's Advisory Council (MPWS) which was launched in August 1988, it was felt that MPWS should be represented in the national body."Even if (Datuk) Mariati cannot sit on the National Council due to her hectic schedule (as State Attorney-General), she will at least recommend others," said Jainab.
ADVERTISEMENT
Women's rights activists, corporation heads and film stars from the peninsula were among those appointed to the council, prompting some to wonder how film and theatre personalities could advise the Government on serious women's issues.On Monday, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said its setting up was in line with the National Policy on Women (which was formulated in 1989) and the Women's Development Action Plan (implemented in 1997) for the Advancement of Women.
ADVERTISEMENT
"This Council will ensure our women empowerment agenda is consistent with the country's direction. It will act as an adviser to the Government so we are able to improve our policies, ensuring the dignity of our women is upheld," he said, at the National Women's Day celebration in Putrajaya.The National Council would be chaired by the Federal Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim who is from Sarawak.Jainab noted that since MPWS is ahead of the National Women's Advisory and Consultative Council by 27 years, it would be ideal for the two bodies to collaborate for the advancement of women in Malaysia. Among its accomplishments are the putting up of Wisma Wanita, Sabah, a first for the country, the Women of Substance Training Programme and reducing the socio-economic gap between urban and rural women entrepreneurs. "As far as Wisma Wanita is concerned, Sabah's initiative is ahead of the other states. It would not have materialised if Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had not been supportive of Sabah women's aspirations. He is gender-sensitive in the sense that he listens and considers the interests and needs of both men and women," she said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
