Speaker must rectify absence of gender equality, family development PSC

MP SPEAKS | The last day of Parliament saw the announcement of the much-awaited establishment of eight parliamentary select committees (PSC); key entities in a fully functioning parliamentary democracy.

However, we are disappointed to note the absence of the Special Select Committee On Gender Equality And Family Development, which clearly should be considered a frontline select committee.

Groups such as the elderly, whose interests are discussed by the PSC, are particularly vulnerable. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, these vulnerable groups are even more exposed.

A report published this month by both United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) titled "Families on the Edge" looked at 500 families, including 20 percent of which are female heads of households in PPRs in KL, to determine the impacts of the movement control order (MCO) implemented due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report showed that women and children are disproportionately affected by the pandemic; the median household income in June 2020 for female heads of households fell to RM675, and 50 percent think that their financial situation will get worse. Another 42 percent of all households and 56 percent of female heads of households are devoid of equipment such as computers for online learning.

It also raises questions on the level of adequate assistance provided by the government as 40 percent of all households, and 45 percent of female heads of households did not find the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) as the most useful aid to meet their needs.

The resurgence of the Special Select Committee on Gender Equality and Family Development, then helmed by MP for Merbok Nor Azrina Surip, will help shed light on detailing the needs of women and children; beginning with a thorough study of the UNICEF and UNFPA report.

The special select committee consisted of a bipartisan group of representatives from PKR, DAP, Umno, and PAS. Leveraging on their mandate to call in officials and experts to investigate the issues in-depth, they scrutinised and improved government policies such as the sexual harassment and gender equality bills.

The committee was also in the process of enacting a gender equality assessment of Parliament - a needed guide for our August House.

The efforts of the former select committee were curtailed, however, with the change of government in March 2020.

While the government is able to suggest the creation of special select committees, it ultimately falls on the speaker to finalise as it is a function formed specifically by Parliament.

We, therefore, urge the speaker to maintain the Special Select Committee on Gender Equality and Family Development to ensure policies and legislation are adequately scrutinised so that they can serve all of the rakyat without leaving anyone behind.

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NURUL IZZAH ANWAR and NOR AZRINA SURIP are Permatang Pauh MP and Merbok MP, repectively. - Mkini