INTERVIEW | PKR's Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah said the new Perikatan Nasional (PN) government may not pursue an ongoing law reform agenda that was initiated by the Pakatan Harapan administration.
This is despite Bersatu, a former Pakatan Harapan ally, had agreed to reform the country's laws according to the former coalition's election manifesto.
Moreover, Maria (photo) is worried that PN, which mainly comprises Malay nationalist parties — Umno, PAS and Bersatu — may take a conservative approach to formulate policies and laws which would contravene human rights and women rights.
"Yes, (Malaysia under PN may take) a conservative (approach) and (PN's policies) could be anti-women and anti-human rights," she told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview yesterday.
Before its fall, the Harapan administration planned to table several new Bills and amendments in the next Dewan Rakyat sitting, which was originally slated for March 9.
This includes two constitutional amendments on uplifting the status of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as limiting the prime ministership to two terms.
The new Bills are the Political Funding Bill, Parliament Services Bill, Anti-Stalking Law and Government Procurement Bill.
The Dewan Rakyat is also expected to continue with the second and third readings of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill.
Efforts are being made to improve women rights, which include pushing for an anti-gender discrimination law and the ban on child marriages. There were also efforts to amend the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act and Sedition Act.
Maria assumed that the PN government would not criminalise marital rape as BN had not done so in the past 60 years during its rule.
She also feared that the new government would not continue to push for the ban on child marriages.
"I fear all these will not happen," she lamented.
Maria drew the conclusion based on her experience dealing with BN and PAS in her women rights movement since the late 1980s.
She recalled how a PAS leader had told women rights NGOs that marital rape did not exist.
Maria admitted she was frustrated with the Harapan government which was reluctant to criminalise marital rape, citing the difficulty to prove it in court.
She questioned her former colleagues in PKR — who had been vocal on human rights and reform — on how they are going to reconcile when the new government decides not to pursue relevant laws or implement conservative provisions.
She zeroed-in on former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, former PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin and former Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah as those who had been vocal on human rights and the reform agenda.
She wonders how the new government would react if PAS pushed for the implementation of the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 in the Dewan Rakyat.
Asked if Maria would take a more active role in civil society, she said it was time for younger activists to take up the cause and chart the way for the country.
She acknowledged that the growing momentum for the three peaceful assemblies following the political coup was a positive sign.
"There were fewer participants in the first (protest), but the crowd grew. I foresee it will keep on growing," added Maria.
"It takes time to build up momentum," she said.
"(But) It has to be led by young people, they would know when to march or when to protest," said Maria, who led electoral reform group, Bersih, between 2013 and 2018. - Mkini
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