AIDCOM Forum on Women, Politics and the Media, December 22, 1999, Kuala Lumpur

In trying to draw inspiration for this text, I read a research paper undertaken by Janet and Peter Khan on the topic of the advancement of women according to the Baha'i writings, a subject of which I am not familiar.

According to their research, more than half the world's population are women, and four-fifths of the world's population are believers of one religion or another. Motherhood is greatly valued in the Baha'i faith because the mother is the first educator of the child and education is the key to the advancement of civilization, and its teachings specify that 'the training anf culture of daughters is more necessary than that of sons'. It also views the equal participation of women in all spheres of activies as a pre-requisite to peace and one of its leaders wrote that 'when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world..... war will cease'.

Let us look at some figures on women in Malaysia:

	1995	1999
No. of Women MPs	15	20
% of Women in Parliament	7.8%	10.4%
No. of Women Cabinet Ministers	3	2
% of Women in Total REgistered Voters	53%	55.6%

In the 1995 general elections, women formed 59% of those who turn up to vote. Malaysia also ranked 73rd out of 180 countriess with only 7.8% of women elected to Parliament. Even the increase to 10.4% in 1999 is below the Asian Countries average of 14.1%. According to statistics, Vietnam has the highest percentage of women MPs in an Asian country with 26% and ranks 11th in the world.

With women forming at least half of Malaysia's population and work force, the fact that women are also politically conscious and motivated is amply substantiated by the fact that more Malaysian women than men take the trouble to register as voters, and more women than men turn out to cast their ballot. The tragedy takes place when the women are not selected as candidates in equal proportions or given cabinet positions likewise. The recently formed Malaysian Cabinet comprises 24 men and 2 women (hardly making it even 10% of the total number of cabinet ministers).

Many excuses have been given as to why women have been excluded in positions of power: lack of administrative ability, lack of managerial skills, indecisiveness, too emotional, etc.

Many reasons have been given such as the old boys' network, negative attitudes out of a sense of insecurity, the 'glass ceiling' which minimises women's opportunities of on-the-job training, exposure overseas and promotion prospects, lack of lobbying skils, women not supporting women, etc.

The advent of the Information Age has created radical changes, with access to knowledge and information equal to both men and women, and Knowledge and Information spells power. The economic indication for at least the next two decades is that Asia, which includes China, will become the domination region of the world - economicaly, politically and culturally, and this will include exciting opportunities for women and women's leadership. The world's problems have become too complex and will require a different kind of leadership from the macho kind of leadership - a leadership that embraces that special component of caring or empathy, which is critical when there are no instantaneous solutions. This will create opportunities for women and a new breed of men who dare to create a new vision and new social orders.

In Mexico, after decades of being relegated to the kitchen, women are becoming a political force to be reckoned with in the traditionally macho Mexico. Over the pas few months, female politicians have taken charge of the Mexico City government and two of the country's three main political parties. Amalia Garcia, President of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party todl Reuters, ' I think this is a sign of the New Century'.

Recently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Prince Al-Wahid bin Talal, a Saudi billionaire entrepreneur, spoke up for women's political rights in the conservative Muslim kingdom, and said that women make up half of society, and they must play an important role. He says that Islam has never been opposed to women's involvement in the political, economic, social and financial spheres. 'On the contrary, Islam has granted them these rights', he said, adding 'I think it is tradition which is blocking the way, not Islam'.

The role of the media on the image of women is also a denegrading factor. I can give several examples and the most recent is after the recent general elections, when women sworn in are referred to as 'the rose amongst the thorns'. The media is a very powerful agent and women's groups should make it their business to monitor negative media images of women and influence the media to take up a courageous stand, differentiating constructive criticism from wilful attacks on the powers that be.

Women and women's groups need to be serious and passionate over their causes and take up a central position as pressure groups and lobbyists. We need to move the wheels for a 'Political Awakening' which is in keeping with the changes taking place all over the world - whether democratic, socialist, leftisit, communist or Islamic cultures!

I am surprised at the almost deafening silence of Malaysian women and women's organizations over the recent reduction of women ministers in the Malaysian cabinet. We should be courageous enough to take 'the way forward; by expressing ourselves on women's issues.

I attach an Open Letter which I sent to YAB the Prime Minister on December 15, 1999, urging the Prime Minister to increase women's leadership on the government's seats of power for that this Millennium will close on a vote of confidence in the women of Malaysia.

OPEN LETTER TO

YAB DATO SERI DR. MAHATHIR bin MOHAMAD

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

YAB Dato Seri Perdana Menteri,

I am writing this letter to you with the full realisation of the pain and presure which you must have undergone in the selection of your team in the Cabinet. I am also confident that you, Sir, have reached that level of leadership and wisdom that you can differentiate between impertinent intrusion and a frank and honest statement, which places of utmost importance the interest of the women of Malaysia and the reputation of Malaysia in the annal of histroy.

Never before in the history of Malaysia have so many women candidates been fielded by political parties. On the whole, the women fielded by the BN did very well, some making their debut in the general elections, soem being pitted against strong male opponents. After the 'battle royale' many women were waiting in anticipation as to whether more women cabinet ministers will be appointed. We are stunned until today, that never mind about an increase, the number of women cabinet ministers was in fact reduced and even the status quo was not retained. We cannot forget the utterances and statements made by the government leaders on the confidence they have in women, on the encouragement they gave to women to enter into the political scene, on the government's reliance on them to influence their families to vote for peace and a stable political situation, etc. Women also came out in large numbers and worked hard as party workers during the general elections.

The statement you made, Sir, at your announcement of the Cabinet, that you would have liked to appoint more women ministers but could not find suitable candidates, is a very serious judgement on the capabilities and leadership level of Malaysian women. If indeed your statement was correctly reported, I have to frankly state that it has created grave concerns and negative reactions amongst Malaysian women and I would request that you kindly clarify the basis of your statement.

It is of great concern to us that you could not find a suitable woman candidate in the Cabinet when at least one amongst these women M.P.s who won is a National Deputy Woman Leader of a BN component party, has held ministrial posts in at least three Ministries, has never lost in her Wanita party elections, had the honour of making an address at a United Nations Assembly in New York, and was recently sent to battle the state head of an opposition party and won the set for BN!!

It is also of further concern for us that the likes of women M.P.s suchas the following two women M.P.s were not considered at least as Parliamentary Secretaries.

• one is a second term M.P., an entrepreneur, holds a Ph.D. and is the National Deputy Woman Leader of a BN component party.
• another was a senior MIDA officer turned lawyer and State woman leader of a BN component party.

If the argument is that these two women leaders have not yet earned their seniority, the appointment of the new Minsiter of Education, and Deputy Minister of Education proves otherwise. In fact, the strength of these two appointments proves that the Prime Minister exercise flexibility in his options and dares to move into the territory of the non-conventional. If the appointment of more women in the highest government positions is to be categorized as 'non-conventional', so be it, but put these capable women into the positions and let the process of political awakening happen.

YAB Dato Seri Perdana Menteri:

Whilst Malaysia deservedly can claim credit in the eyes of the Global Community for its foresight in the Multi-Media Super Corridor, its excellence in organizing the Commonwealth Games and Formula 1, its superiority in building the Twin Towers and Tabung Haji building, its well managed recovery from the economic downturn, let Malaysia not go down in the history of the Century as having no confidence in the leadership capabilities of Malaysian women.

As we move towards the Year 2020, Asia will become the domination region of the world, economically, politically and culturally and the emerging values and culture of Asia will and must include Opportunities for Women. The world's problems have become too complex and require that leadership component of caring or empathy, which is critical when there are no instantaneous solutions. This spells opportunities for women and a new breed of men who dare to create a new vision and new social orders. Our neighbour, Indonesia, and the role played by its Vice President, Megawati Sukarno, is an excellent illustration in this regard.

Today, we are no more referring to the Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir or Margaret Thatchers of this world. Today, even in the poltical environemnt of Russia, there is a woman Deputy Prime Minister. New Zealand elected two women to be Prime Minister in succession. Canada has a Chinese woman Governor General. Bermuda, Switzerland, Bangladesh, Ireland and Sri Lanka are some countries where their people have voted in a woman as thier Prime Minister or PResident.,

YAB Perdana Menteri, the speed in the advancement of the Information Technology of which you are Malaysia's premier promoter and architect, will create equal opportunities in which gender eventually will become a non-issue. The politcal awakening is happening all over the world. Let it not be said that Malaysia is entering into the New Millennium, taking 1,000 steps backwards in the area of advancement and equal opporutnities for women.

YAB Perdana Menteri, there is still time to put things right. Let not your advisors tell you that it is too late or that there are no more vacancies. If Betong MP Douglas Uggah Embas could be appointed Deputy Minister after your earlier appointment on December 10, another woman Cabinet Minister and a couple of women parliamentary secretaries can be appointed before December 31, 1999. YAB Dato Sero Dr. Mahathir, you are the Prime Minsiter and well known as a master strategist who springs a few surprises now and then. Please make it a happy surprise for the women of Malaysia before we enter the New Millennium. Re-write the current negative history to a future positive history for the women of Malaysia!

I thank you for reading this letter.

Dato' Dr. Nellie Tan-Wong

Co-Founder, Women's Institute of Management

December 15, 1999