Happy International Women’s Day! Yes, it’s not just the anniversary of our momentous election five years ago today. Here’s the day we recognise women – and this article looks specifically at what’s been happening in Selangor on women’s affairs. First published in the Penang Monthly in May 2012.
Women’s Affairs in the State of Selangor
One of the most well-developed civil society networks in Malaysia is that of women. This perhaps is testament to the skills possessed by women, in their adept capabilities of organisation and co-ordination, certainly attributes that other issues-based groups can learn from. Although other pieces in this column have focused on both Penang and Selangor policies on a variety of issues, this article highlights women’s affairs in Selangor exclusively, as others already expound substantially on those in Penang, in other parts of this issue.
The Selangor Women’s Affairs portfolio is led by YB Rodziah Ismail. Under the previous Barisan Nasional-led state government, it was possible for the state’s women’s portfolio to receive significant support and funding directly from the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development at the federal government level. Because of Pakatan Rakyat’s entry as the new state government, it would now be necessary to develop its own programmes and policies for the 2.59 million women in Selangor, since such support as previously provided would no longer be as easily received. An independent portfolio, with its own self-developed and self-executed policies and programmes would also reflect the vision Pakatan Rakyat has for its women at the national level.
The Pakatan Rakyat Shadow Budget 2012, for example, envisions female labour participation to increase from 46 percent to 55 percent nationwide within five years (46 percent is one of the lowest rates in the region). This would be achieved through training, greater flexibility in working hours and work locations, and expanded provision of affordable, safe, child-enriching and more convenient child-care facilities. Pakatan has also committed to a childcare allowance of RM1,000 a year for children 12 years old and below from households earning less than RM1,000 a month, and the establishment of certified childcare centres through the facilitation of special loans and tax incentives. A total of RM1.6 billion would be allocated out of the total budget for this purpose.
In her International Women’s Day 2012 message, YB Rodziah stated that empowered women are nation builders. The state’s chosen theme of the year is “Connecting Women, Synergising Action, Building Nation”, which is reflective of the state’s vision to allow for growth and networking of women, in the belief that when empowered, women are truly capable of bringing about change in political and socioeconomic transformation, as well as effecting good governance, mitigating corruption levels and eradicating poverty.
Specific Women Programmes in Selangor
The state government has steadily increased the amount of funds channelled to this portfolio over the last four years since taking over in March 2008. With RM500,000 contributed in the years 2008 and 2009 respectively, this allocation was increased to RM800,000 in 2010, RM1 million in 2011 and 2012, and most recently, an additional RM30 million has been separately parked under a specific Women’s Empowerment Programme under a “Selangorku” grant. This grant is part of a larger RM300 million grant launched by the Selangor state government in 2012 for the development of democracy and society empowerment. It is understood that applications for women’s training and education, as well as for proposed projects on childcare, will be considered, although the details of this mechanism of this have yet to be finalised.
Some of the key products under the women’s portfolio include 23 women’s community centres located in each state constituency, which allow women to enhance selected skill sets in certain areas of economic development in order to maximise their potential. The target is for each of the 56 state constituencies to have a women’s community centre respectively eventually – and hence 33 more are slated to be built. A feature of the previous government but neglected has also been restored, namely a One Stop Crisis Centre, in main hospitals within the state. These centres prioritise women and children who have been the victims of domestic abuse, providing a safe space for them to recover, complete with care and counselling facilities. Participating hospitals to date are Selayang Hospital, Ampang Hospital, Klang Hospital, Serdang Hospital, Kajang Hospital and Hoslital. A unique programme, MammoSel, is aimed at educating ladies about breast cancer, and also provides for free breast cancer mammograms and screening.
A more general theme for the women’s portfolio has been the Agenda Kesejahteraan Wanita Selangor, or the Selangor Women’s Harmony Agenda, with the objective of empowering women, and targeting working women (including those in the informal sector), home-makers, youth and young women, indigenous women groups, women in rural and semi-urban areas, the elderly, single mothers, migrants and women with disabilities. Some selected areas of focus would be to train and empower women in these categories in economic and career skills, basic rights, politics and decision-making, family and healthcare, science and technology, sports and recreation and intellectual and professional strategies. Under the Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES) programme, or People’s Economy, maternity leave for civil servants is extended to 90 days from 60 days, and paternity leave is now also granted up to 60 days.
Building Long-Term Institutions and Structures
The more exciting initiatives lie in the formation of institutions, as these would provide for longer-term building blocks of the future. Hence, Selangor in its vision of developing a well-connected network of women in the state, launched its Selangor Women’s Permuafakatan Council, or Majlis Permuafakatan Wanita Selangor (MPWS) in November 2011. This council’s objective is to strengthen women’s activism, and women’s organisations, such that the collective wisdom, expertise and experience would enable activities to be better implemented in the state as a whole. Members of this council include leaders, women activists, representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), non-government individuals (NGI), academics as well as professionals. The Council acts as an advisory body to the Selangor State’s Women’s Portfolio, thereby strengthening co-operation between the state government, activists, community leaders and civil society.
This is an important step as it creates an institutional mechanism which systematically ensures the expertise of women in the long-established civil society movement can be channelled to the state government, which has funds – ensuring such collaborative effort in policy formation, drawing up of a Selangor Women’s Action Plan, research and development, and as an information-sharing resource for women, family and community affairs. From the state’s point of view, this structure is essential in order that its programmes can be effectively targeted and optimised.
The Council is predicated on the principles of justice for all regardless of race, religion, gender, class and ideology; good governance, democracy and constitutionalism, respect for fundamental human rights, the protection of social justice, and in support of the international conventions and agreements signed by the Malaysian government (such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, CRC, and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW), whilst respecting the cultural and religious differences in society.
The second key institution that has been set up is the Selangor Anti-Human Trafficking Council, or Majlis Anti Pemerdagangan Manusia Negeri Selangor (MAPMAS), with oversight from the Menteri Besar’s Office. At the national level, an Anti Trafficking in Persons Bill was passed and then gazetted as an Act in 2007, an acknowledgement of the problems Malaysia faces today. Women trafficking is a USD13 million industry in Malaysia alone, Malaysia being a source, transit and destination country.
Selangor itself, being the urban centre of the country with Kuala Lumpur located within, is where trafficking agents are located, and bring such women to. Local NGO Tenaganita has been at the forefront of tackling these cases, and its head, Irene Fernandez, has been appointed as the Chair of the Selangor MAPMAS Council. Such partnership between civil society and the state government is again reflective of necessary collaboration in handling tough issues.
The sub-committees on victim protection, prosecution, and community empowerment and prevention, are together meant to raise awareness on women trafficking, monitor cases, assist victims in Selangor and work effectively with all levels of society to abolish trafficking. This structure is unique in its use of local and municipal councils in Selangor, which itself has formed anti-trafficking technical committees – since councils can use their powers under the Local Government Act 1974, this ensures the ease of monitoring and enforcement, mobilising the community, and collecting data and analysis.
In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2012, it is certainly with great pride that these efforts of the Selangor government are acknowledged. Selangor is blessed with a high percentage of its women in the workforce. However, it is aware of the challenges faced by women today – both in and out of employment – and hopes to ease them based on its slew of policies and programmes. The two Councils that have been formed are especially unique and creative ways of working closely with existing women’s organisations, and tapping their wealth of knowledge and experience. In short, the value of women cannot be underscored – and the state government’s efforts in empowering women are reflective of the importance they play in today’s society and the process of nation-building.
