Zuraida takes Najib to task over women’s rights

PKR Wanita chief says PM is 'holding women at ransom' by blaming them for his failure to address the unilateral conversion of children.

PETALING JAYA: PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin today slammed Prime Minister Najib Razak for failing to ensure the rights of women.

In a statement, she said the measures taken by Najib so far undermined all women in the country, starting with his failure to include a clause against the unilateral conversion of children in the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 (Act 164).

She said Najib was “holding women at ransom” by putting the blame on them for his failure to include Section 88A in the act.

Section 88A(1) specifically states that if a parent converts to Islam, the religion of the children remains the same as when the couple were married, unless both parents agree to the conversion of their children.

At a recent TN50 dialogue for women, Najib had said that a ban on unilateral child conversion would require a two-thirds majority vote in the Dewan Rakyat to change the Federal Constitution.

Zuraida, who is the Ampang MP, said if Najib had wanted support from opposition MPs regarding the issue, he would have garnered the two-thirds majority needed to amend the bill.

“However, the prime minister did not do that as he was not committed to solving issues pertaining to women’s rights.”

Zuraida also referred to Najib’s recent announcement that he would “name and shame” public-listed companies with no women directors.

She said such a move would only generate hatred and animosity towards women instead of healthy competition and mutual respect.

She also hit out at the inaction of Najib and other women ministers to intervene in Kedah’s proposal to legalise second marriages without the consent of the first wife.

“Sadly, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Rohani Abdul Karim are all too inattentive to women’s issues to give good and relevant advise to the prime minister,” she said.

Shahrizat is Wanita Umno chief while Rohani is women, family, and community development minister.

Zuraida said Najib should field more women candidates to propose, second and defend women-friendly policies.

“Instead, we have a prime minister who recently named himself chairman of the MyWIN Academy Advisory Council, an organisation meant to empower women. So where is the commitment to entrust capable women with leadership roles?

“Short of wearing skirts, he has usurped and taken over positions of decision-making meant for women.” - FMT