Young women must claim their space

 

As published in The Sun              

 

UNIVERSITY students are still waiting for the University and University Colleges Act to be abolished, or at least amended to suit the 21st century.

 

The Act has been used to curb student activities, particularly to prevent student involvement in party politics. However, over the years the Act has acquired new jurisdictions to include student participation in organisations and movements with broader interests. The result is a generation of removed and apathetic young Malaysians.

 

Meanwhile, a 23-year-old Egyptian girl finds herself in the thick of action in Malaysia. Hadil El-Khouly is in town to lend a hand at the Musawah meeting in Kuala Lumpur this weekend.

 

Musawah is a global movement for equality and justice in the Muslim family. The meeting will see some 200 Muslim scholars and activists from 49 countries come together to launch the movement and discuss ideas on how to reform Muslim family law.

 

Hadil arrived from Cairo in December to assist the organisers with Arabic translations for their meeting materials as well as to strategise on integrating young women into the movement.

 

“It’s important for young women to have experience in activism, in this case, in the Islamic context. Our experiences and challenges may differ from the older generation, for example on issues relating to identity and acceptance within the Muslim community. A body like Musawah can also promote multi-generational dialogue,” she said.

 

As a student at Cairo University from which she graduated in law, Hadil was active in student organisations promoting equality and justice for women. At 18, she threw herself into the “real world” working with the Centre for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance.

 

“Starting work young forced me to manage my time between school and work. But the experience was liberating,” she said.

 

She said the women’s movement in Egypt is, as a whole, a visible and strong one. The student organisation she was involved in promoted equality and justice for women, but was conscious not to exclude men.

 

Their activities would ride on the general human rights platform (where women’s rights are an integral part) which included male students.

 

Women in the Arab world are reluctant to identify with the English term “feminist” even though they have an active women’s rights movement.

 

As writer Tala Al-Ramahi said in the UAE-based publication The National, even progressive Arab women “would be weary of the word, most probably because it carries with it Westernised connotations of what a woman is expected to be.” They would prefer to identify with the kind of activism that is more relevant to their own cultural context. Moreover, another major criticism of “feminist” groups is that they tend to hold dialogues only among themselves.

 

Hadil said that for the cause to succeed, women’s groups cannot afford to isolate men. After all, when it comes to legislation men would have to vote for women’s rights too.

 

That is precisely what Musawah is trying to achieve: reform in legislation. Muslim family law in many countries has not changed from the classical legal framework. This framework does not take into consideration the daily realities of Muslim women today. Malaysia, for example, is a good case study.

 

While Malaysia remains one of the more progressive Muslim countries, its position as a leading nation in providing just Muslim family laws has been surpassed by countries like Morocco, Turkey and Tunisia. We can claim back our position in the Muslim world by supporting Musawah’s international law reform movement to end discrimination against Muslim women across the globe.

 

Hadil sees immense potential for our country to play a major role in the movement. Malaysia’s strength, she said, is in the diversity of her people.

 

She said young Malaysians must have the desire to be part of the decision-making process and young women especially, must integrate and dare to take risks. Most importantly, they must claim their space because no one will give it to them freely.

 

A relay for thought

As published in The Sun

 

Dear Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Tuanku Ja’afar, President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia,

 

My heartiest congratulations to you, and the Council, on your success in organising the Olympic 2008 torch relay in Kuala Lumpur recently.

 

Unlike many who could not escape from work to witness the historic run, I was privileged to be part of the large, excited crowd in Bukit Bintang. I got to see the torch close up, and got a free Lenovo hand fan too!

 

The atmosphere was very festive with the crowd singing Mandarin songs and chanting Mandarin slogans. And I must say, I’ve never seen such a concentration of red t-shirts and Chinese flags my life!

 

Phew, good thing we didn’t decide to have the encierro (Spanish bull run) on the same day!

 

I regretted not wearing my Jalur Gemilang bandana. It would really help tourists and foreign journalists who caught pictures of my head remember where their pictures were taken.

 

Standing in the midst of all that redness reminded me of Kuala Lumpur not too long ago, when people gathered wearing popcorn coloured t-shirts. What a controversy those people created, for gathering in town without a police permit.

 

I then got worried about the Olympic torch relay, also because many in the crowd were carrying placards with “One China Forever” written on them. Oh dear, did they mean that to include Bukit Bintang too?

 

So I went home and called Bukit Aman. A sergeant from the Pusat Kawal Malaysia assured me that the flag bearers and slogan chanters were all part of the official event. And that they were Malaysians, so I needn’t worry.

 

He reminded me that the Olympics was a sporting event, and non-political. Because of that, and since the event was organised by the Olympic Council of Malaysia, no police permit was needed.

 

The event went well although AP reported a Japanese family was jeered and thumped with inflatable batons. The BBC showed a similar scene on television when a pro-Tibet mat salleh woman was being interviewed on-site.

 

Oh, but we can never really trust the foreign media. Not even when they have us on tape.

 

After speaking to the sergeant, a great idea came to mind!

 

The Council and the Ministry of Youth and Sport should sign an MoU and declare thinking as a sport for Malaysian university students.

 

After that, perhaps organise a run around Kuala Lumpur? One like the recent Olympic 2008 torch relay, except instead of a torch we carry a giant light bulb papier mache instead — made out of recycled paper, of course. It will symbolise thought!

 

Based on the sergeant’s report, we wouldn’t need a police permit. And since the Ministry is involved, I wouldn’t worry too much about the University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) being enforced. We could even ask the Minister to cut a ribbon!

 

I’d understand if the Council is concerned about the UUCA. I’m sure many young Malaysians fear it more than you. Perhaps roping in Rakan Muda would help, and an endorsement from the Ministry of Higher Education?

 

The only thing left then is to organise Rela and traffic police for security, and oh, the mass produced matching t-shirts.

 

Please, do consider this idea. At least before the next Olympics in 2012 when a torch relay in Kuala Lumpur would see the Union Jack – after 55 years – be raised all over our city again.

 

Insultingly slow progress

As published in The Sun

 

I was told the administration listens to young people and takes their recommendations seriously, so I wrote my heart out here for many months. But I lost hope in writing when issues brought up in this column were left unheeded.

 

Until today, the outdated University and University Colleges Act (UUCA) still exists to stifle the already severely drained brains of our youths. American warships too are still welcomed to dock at our shores with their cargo loaded with nuclear things that could fry all of Peninsular Malaysia in a puff. What’s more, despite cries for electoral reform, the long-serving Tan Sri Abdul Rashid was retained as Election Commission chairman and parliament was even mobilised to extend his tenure.

 

Equally upsetting is the painfully slow incorporation of women in decision making positions — so slow it is insulting!

 

And oh, did the leader of Wanita Umno just get dropped from the 2008 cabinet? Shouldn’t she, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, instead get a feather in her hat for maintaining her parliamentary seat in a state that otherwise voted Opposition? Does being the head of a wing that makes up half of the party’s membership not count?

 

How many members does Wanita Umno have anyway? That’s right, more than the number of residents in the city of Shah Alam put together! And isn’t Rafidah also the head of Wanita Barisan Nasional (BN)?

 

How is this the way forward for women representation in leadership positions? This question alone is enough to get one writing again.

 

Following the landmark Putrajaya Declaration mooted by members of the NAM Ministerial Meeting on the Advancement of Women in 2005, the Malaysian government vowed to allocate up to 30 per cent seats for women in decision making positions.

 

They were so serious at the time about recognising women’s talents that it was made policy in the Ninth Malaysian Plan (2006-2010). The move instantly won the BN government and then Minister of Women and Family Development, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, extra brownie points.

 

Naturally, the nation could only expect the government to fulfil its promise. And where better to initiate change than the in cabinet itself. But the cabinet reshuffle in 2006 was perhaps held too soon and was too minor a reshuffle for the government to incorporate more women ministers. It therefore maintained only three women ministers in a lineup of 32.

 

Women were told to “be patient” but the government declined to commit to a deadline for the fulfilment the 30 per cent quota. We did however, see some women made boss in various government agencies like Bank Negara and public universities. Still, those appointments were not enough and expectations were high in the political realm.

 

By the time the 2008 election was announced, the nation expected BN’s commitment to manifest in its list of election candidates. It did, but too minimally. According to the Joint Action Group for gender Equality (JAG), Umno which contested for 453 seats, led the pack by fielding 40 women candidates — up only by five candidates since the 2004 election. Had Umno, the backbone party of the BN government, forgotten about their promise in 2005 and in the Ninth Malaysia Plan?

 

Worse still, instead of seeing more women ministers in the 2008 cabinet, we now have less. With Rafidah deserted, we only have Datuk Ng Yen Yen and Datuk Seri Azalina Othman left. Shahrizat doesn’t count because she is not a cabinet member.

 

Speaking of which, what exactly is Shahrizat’s post all about? Why appoint sineibe wgi enjoys ministerial status but doesn’t need to attend cabinet meetings? Is it necessary to make someone a minister if her role is solely to advice on the Islamic Family Law? Shouldn’t she instead be advising Ng Yen Yen who is the new Minister of Women and Family Development, perhaps as an advisor within the ministry? Wait … didn’t Shahrizat fail to defend Muslim women against the Islamic Family Law amendment a few years back?

 

Her appointment may be to give face to Wanita Umno whose boss was dropped from the cabinet lineup. But it looks like it would create ambiguity for the new minister.

 

So how exactly is all this supposed to be good in promoting women leadership?

 

War is a crime

 

As published in The Sun

 

The famous picture of the hooded guy tortured in Abu Ghraib has been appearing in print advertisements promoting a war crimes conference and exhibition to be organised by the Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO). The torture victim is reportedly in town and will be addressing the conference in Kuala Lumpur next month, along with numerous other speakers from all over the world.

 

Like their previous forums, which also showcased internationally renowned personalities, the organisation can expect a good response for the event. There are many of us who are genuinely interested in international affairs, particularly the Middle East crisis and nuclear proliferation. They include academics, activists, government personnel as well as regular members of society who simply want to learn more about current issues from experts in the field.

 

University students, especially in related disciplines, should look forward to the event because it is not often that we have public conferences featuring international speakers. These students should take the opportunity to participate and gain exposure on the different perspectives offered by say, a former UN Secretary-General, an American Congresswoman or indeed, an Abu Ghraib detainee.

 

Some believe it would be unlike Malaysian students to take the initiative to participate individually, rather would be more comfortable going in groups. Here, the onus is on the respective colleges and universities to encourage, in fact organise, their students to attend such conferences. Naturally, it is very expensive to invite international speakers to present on campus, but here is an opportunity to see a whole line-up of them in one sitting without charge.

 

The press too must be excited about the upcoming event. However, one wonders if they would be interested in the substance of the conference or just the Chairman of the event, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. One cannot help but to anticipate the local press trying to cucuk (instigate) Dr M for sizzling statements concerning local politics. Foreign media on the other hand, may prefer to fish for statements that can be generalised as anti-West.

 

Looking at the conference agenda, one can easily assume that it will be an America-bashing session. Then again, in discussing war, invasion, and occupation in the post-colonial age, it is inevitable that the role of the US, Israel and the “coalition of the willing” are critiqued.

 

However, let us not be so preoccupied with these states that we downplay other threats such as the rift between the nuclear states India and Pakistan. We should also be concerned about the destabilisation of Africa due to civil wars as well as totalitarian and military governments. And while we object to the discriminatory Euro-American policy on Iran and North Korea, we should be cautious not to suggest support for latter’s nuclear ambitions.

 

Developing nuclear energy is dangerous and history has shown us the devastating consequences of nuclear radiation in Chernobyl. It does not matter whether it is developed by so-called “civilised” states, nor does it matter if it is developed for military or civilian use. Even the slightest accident can cause nuclear radiation to devastate entire communities for generations. One wonders then why any society would encourage their government to pursue development of nuclear energy.

 

Nevertheless, one must acknowledge that the effort by Perdana Global Peace Organisation in initiating an international movement to criminalise war is timely and urgent. We live in a time of the “pre-emptive strike” and where military technology is advanced enough to destruct whole countries within minutes.

 

One can imagine sceptics doubting the United Nations would respond to this movement. Here is where we, the world civil society, come in. Collectively, we can play an active role in urging our governments to push for a United Nations resolution to criminalise war. But it is equally important that we also endorse the international call for reform of the Security Council, which is currently dominated by five states with veto power.

 

The call of the people, by right, should resonate in the United Nations through the elected governments that represent us there. The support of world governments for a UN resolution to criminalise war, following the democratisation of the Security Council, will allow for legitimate international effort of regulation and enforcement.

 

Is this really an impossible cause? Well, that was probably what many once thought of the women’s suffrage and Greenpeace movements. But see how far they have progressed.

 

Santa to the rescue

 

As published in The Sun

 

Dear Santa,

 

Not so long ago this column published my letter to the prime minister. In the letter I appealed for serious efforts by the government to strengthen relations between the various religious communities in Malaysia.

 

Additionally, I welcomed the prime minister’s enthusiasm in wanting to stimulate an intellectual renaissance through all-round quality education.

 

Nevertheless, I also called for greater distance in Malaysia’s relationship with war-mongering governments because I thought that would be the right thing to do since we are after all a principled, pro-peace Hadhari society.

 

On this topic, Santa, I suggested for Malaysia to hold back on Free Trade Agreement talks with the United States – a call merely echoing Latin American governments that have already testified to inequality in such pacts with the particular warmongering state. I also suggested that we not allow any more warships destined to participate in the Middle East violence to dock at our shores.

 

Since that letter however, inter-religious and inter-racial relations have severely deteriorated in Malaysia.

 

What’s more, our leaders do not seem earnest in handling the problem since many appear to be getting away with seditious crimes like spreading horrifying fitnah (lies) through text messages and promoting xenophobia on television.

 

We have also since seen our university standings plunge in the world rankings, although I cannot quite remember if we blamed our underperformance on Western bias and conspiracies again this time around.

 

And despite a lot of talk about bina insan (character development) and providing all-round quality education to confront Malaysia’s brain drain problem, nothing has been done to liberalise the Universities and University Colleges Act.

 

You might also be interested to know, Santa, the government has also pursued further talks with the United States for a Free Trade Agreement and allowed yet another military aircraft carrier to dock in Malaysia while on its way to the Persian Gulf.

 

On top of that, we welcomed and gave special treatment to John Howard and Condi Rice at an international conference we hosted here in Kuala Lumpur. The latter was even furnished with a piano and invited to play a few tunes for our distinguished guests.

 

That said, I have no choice but to conclude that the prime minister either did not read my letter, or worse, does not love me enough and has therefore done the opposite for all my appeals.

 

Dejected, I have resorted to writing to you instead – an old, bearded, seasons-greetings, fictitious, pink celebrity. I therefore seek your good offices, dear Santa, to help with the above issues.

 

Maybe you can help restore trust between religious communities in Malaysia. While you’re at it, please also advise the government against allowing foreign military vehicles to park here, especially those carrying nuclear warheads.

 

It may be too much to ask for you to free Palestine and eradicate poverty in Africa too, but please at least try granting the following for 2007:

 

1. A new chief for the Elections Commission and the state of Selangor.

 

2. Live telecasts of parliament proceedings. This will allow Malaysians to see for themselves the rude and immature behaviour of their elected representatives. Contrary to what the deputy prime minister recently said, live pictures do not give distorted impressions. Malaysians will also have the opportunity to see how the House Speaker easily blocks hot issues from being debated by dismissing the issues as “not urgent”.

 

3. Independent media. Let it not be the case that the only newspapers left not merged or gobbled up by media conglomerates are the opposition newspapers.

 

4. More women in leadership positions. For many years now, public universities have reported higher numbers in female student enrolment compared to male. Recent figures actually show an average minimum of 60% for female student enrolment in almost every public university.

 

This suggests there are more qualified women in the job market compared to men. It is only reasonable therefore for more women to be represented in leadership positions today, be it in business or politics.

 

5. One year’s supply of anti-nausea pills. Just something to help Malaysians get through the extra dose of propaganda expected to flood the media as the general election approaches.

 

I am counting on you, Santa! Cheers.