Pengerang MP Azalina Othman today defended Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, saying that he did not actually mean that there was no need for a women's rights movement.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Azalina said what the PM meant in his speech at the National Women's Day celebration yesterday was that there "is no need for quotas".
"What he meant was that women have been taking part (with) equal rights from the beginning, even from Independence. He emphasised that so many women, especially from Wanita Umno, have participated actively.
"What he is trying to say, I think from his speech, is that you don't need a quota for (the women's rights) struggle...You have to quote him properly," she said.
In saying that a women's rights movement "is not needed", the PM, who is also women, family and community development minister, was saying that there already was the acceptance of women's participation in community, Azalina added.
More young women, please
Moving forward, she hoped that the National Women's Day celebration next year would also recognise young women in the women's rights movement to encourage their greater participation in civil society.
Among those recognised yesterday were veteran women's rights leaders Rasammah Bhupalan, Sukumari Sekhar and Fatimah Hamid Don.
Najib in his speech at the celebration yesterday said that there is no need for a women's rights movement" as Malaysian women have been given equal rights from the start, for example in the right to vote.
He also said that Malaysia was far ahead of some developed countries on this front, such as the United States, where there still were clubs that did not accept women as members.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Azalina said what the PM meant in his speech at the National Women's Day celebration yesterday was that there "is no need for quotas"."What he meant was that women have been taking part (with) equal rights from the beginning, even from Independence. He emphasised that so many women, especially from Wanita Umno, have participated actively.
"What he is trying to say, I think from his speech, is that you don't need a quota for (the women's rights) struggle...You have to quote him properly," she said.
In saying that a women's rights movement "is not needed", the PM, who is also women, family and community development minister, was saying that there already was the acceptance of women's participation in community, Azalina added.
More young women, please
Moving forward, she hoped that the National Women's Day celebration next year would also recognise young women in the women's rights movement to encourage their greater participation in civil society.
Among those recognised yesterday were veteran women's rights leaders Rasammah Bhupalan, Sukumari Sekhar and Fatimah Hamid Don.
Najib in his speech at the celebration yesterday said that there is no need for a women's rights movement" as Malaysian women have been given equal rights from the start, for example in the right to vote.
He also said that Malaysia was far ahead of some developed countries on this front, such as the United States, where there still were clubs that did not accept women as members.
'Shahrizat better than Najib'
Meanwhile, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said Najib had been neglecting the women's ministry after he took over the position as acting minister.
"Since Najib took over the post of Minister of (the) 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 compared to his predecessor Shahrizat Abdul Jalil”.
An example, she said, was the fact that the Ministry appeared to have forgotten that Malaysia Women's Day fell on Aug 25, 2012.
"There was 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," she said.
Weighing in on the premier's comments, Kok said it was the women's right groups that have earned women a better position in 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," she added in a statement today.
Despite this, Kok pointed out that Malaysia is still only placed 43rd of 146 countries in the Social Institution and Gender Index (Sigi).
Najib took over the women's ministry in April after Shahrizat's tenure as senator ended in the wake of the National Feedlot Corporation scandal.
Meanwhile, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said Najib had been neglecting the women's ministry after he took over the position as acting minister.
"Since Najib took over the post of Minister of (the) 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 compared to his predecessor Shahrizat Abdul Jalil”.An example, she said, was the fact that the Ministry appeared to have forgotten that Malaysia Women's Day fell on Aug 25, 2012.
"There was 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," she said.
Weighing in on the premier's comments, Kok said it was the women's right groups that have earned women a better position in 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," she added in a statement today.Despite this, Kok pointed out that Malaysia is still only placed 43rd of 146 countries in the Social Institution and Gender Index (Sigi).
Najib took over the women's ministry in April after Shahrizat's tenure as senator ended in the wake of the National Feedlot Corporation scandal.
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