Policymakers, PAS should read SIS survey on Malaysian Muslim women - Marina Mahathir

Human rights activist Marina Mahathir has invited both PAS and policymakers to read Sisters in Islam's (SIS) latest report which highlights the realities of Muslim women in Malaysia.

Data for the report titled "Perceptions and realities: The public and personal rights of Muslim women in Malaysia" was obtained from a survey involving 675 Muslim women respondents nationwide. 

The survey looked at how the struggle for equality is closely linked to a woman's ability to exercise her rights in several areas, including freedom of speech and expression.

Among the findings is that gender inequality is more prominent at the individual level, and there exists strong pressure to conform to expectations of what is an ideal Muslim woman.

"My only hope is that policymakers read the report and respond to it. I hope they do not just react to the headline.

"We are happy to meet up with any policymaker for a full briefing, PAS included," she told the media at Istana hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Marina, who is also a SIS member, was responding to a question whether SIS would engage with certain parties, including PAS, to discuss on the report.

Page 11 of the report mentioned the top three challenges women faced in their marriage life are husbands who do not help with household work, the lack of care towards their emotional needs, and physical or emotional abuse.

"This reality is even more prominent among respondents from the East Coast (of Peninsular Malaysia)," it read.

Marina said PAS, which is the ruling state government in Kelantan and Terengganu, should have the interest to look into the survey.

"In the past, they have responded to reality. If you remember at one time, they did not allow women to stand for election but later realised that half of the voters are women and it would be better to have candidates reflecting that, and their female candidates won.

"If they understand what women really want, they might see that there is something to be said for change. But in the end, for them, it is the issue of reality and what will win votes," she said.

Marina also stressed that religion has been politicised and people are afraid to challenge it.

"Anything that does not get challenged gains currency. It becomes normalised. And those of us who do challenge it, we are then labelled as deviant," she added. - Mkini