The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion
The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion |
| Want the women’s vote? Take public safety seriously Posted: 06 Sep 2012 05:09 PM PDT SEPT 7 — Our women and girls are under attack. Both literally and figuratively. For a society which recognises and makes use of the role and incredible contribution made by women towards the development and progress of this country, we seem incredibly lackadaisical in our attitudes towards safeguarding their rights and safety. I get the feeling and perception that when it comes to issues affecting women, they are often considered not mainstream enough or are strictly under the purview of whichever women representative running for public office. Women continue to be under-represented in Parliament and in the Cabinet. Rather than lead in their own right and capacity, the role of women in mainstream Malaysian politics appears to be to play second fiddle to the men. Consider these facts: women voters account for over 40 per cent of the total 13 million registered voters in Malaysia; that women from all sectors and eligible age groups consistently participate in the electoral process; that they play their cards close to the vest and are more likely to be in the undecided column compared to their male counterparts; that in many constituencies, they are the margin of victory. Hence, you would think that the women's agenda would be a major consideration by all parties out to get and secure the female vote. Though women and men both experience and are concerned about cross cutting and mainstream issues such as public safety, the quality and cost of living, education and employment, women experience these issues differently and will have concerns and issues separate to that of men. We need to drop the paternalistic and sexist attitude of "men know best." If we are serious about getting the respect, support and vote of Malaysian women, we need to do a better job of listening, being inclusive and responding to their concerns and issues. One such concern is public safety and security. Of late, there is increasingly overwhelming evidence that not everyone takes violence against women and girls seriously. Over the past year, we have been inundated by news in the print and social media, of attacks which have targeted and threatened the personal safety and wellbeing of countless women and girls. Despite what the home minister and the Inspector-General of Police may say, people today are feeling incredibly vulnerable and unsafe. Just a few days ago in Kelantan, a woman's hand was almost severed during a snatch theft. Several separate incidents around the Klang Valley have involved women being left battered and bleeding during day-time robberies which occurred in mall car parks. In Johor, someone had her car carjacked with her toddler still inside. According to Bukit Aman statistics, every 2.5 hours somewhere in Malaysia, a woman or girl is raped. Almost every day there is a crime reported in the news which has targeted women and girls. The government's efficiency unit, PEMANDU, claims success in crime prevention efforts by pointing to Malaysia being ranked as Southeast Asia's safest and most peaceful nation and the fourth safest in the Asia-Pacific. (1) However, though it may comfort those in government to beat their chests and say so, it does nothing to the average Malaysian woman on the street who feels anything but safe. It is not enough to say that the statistics indicate that there is less crime on the streets. And no, it is not only those living in the urban areas who feel that way. Rural women and girls daily face threats and circumstances similar to those living in the cities. Even our children aren't safe. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police indicated that from 2006 to 2010, 73 per cent or 11,809 out of 16,159 rape victims were children. (2) According to the police Sexual Crimes Unit, 50 per cent of all rape cases each year involve victims aged 16 and below, while another 19 per cent were aged 16 to 18. This does even include cases of abuse as classified under the Child Act 2001. Based on the large volume of cases ranging from paedophilia and rape to purse snatching, robbery and carjacking, it is not hard to conclude that we are not doing enough to prevent and address such crimes. I cannot help but think that among the reasons why this is so are due to the fact that they are occurring to women and girls and to societal attitudes towards certain crimes. How else do we explain the comments from some of our politicians and people in authority who have blamed women for wearing provocative clothing, for carrying large handbags, for being oblivious and careless henceforth making themselves targets for perpetrators? How do we explain the recent verdicts surrounding the two statutory rape cases which have resulted in public outrage? Or the recent conclusion by the judge in the case of the kindergarten co-owner previously convicted of the alleged rape of a four-year-old girl? The esteemed judge reportedly stated that "… we must not forget who is involved in this rape allegation, even if she is an adult, in which women have a tendency to exaggerate about a sexual act..." (3) The fact that this has involved three separate judges indicates that these are not isolated cases. There is clearly something wrong with the system. It is sobering to realise that in 2009, only 162 rape cases were prosecuted. (4) Rape, especially if it involves an underage victim, is seemingly a crime that is committed with impunity, where perpetrators escape the law and get a "get out of jail free card". In this coming general election, we have the opportunity to influence real change on how we treat the issues affecting women and girls. These are issues which must be taken seriously and should not be treated as an afterthought or something we can do later. The Agenda Wanita Malaysia (Malaysian Women's Agenda) initiative recently announced by Pakatan Rakyat is a great start. However, I can't help but wonder whether it will be long on rhetoric but short on details. Thus far, there is nothing similar as yet from the Barisan Nasional side. I hope that this will soon change. In Malaysia, male politicians rarely, if ever, engage on women's issues. Why do we allow them to get away with it? Women's issues are everyone's issues. The kind of society we want to build is dependent on how we respond to the needs of women and girls. That is how we earn their support. That is how we earn their vote. To the politicians and political parties out there planning to participate in the upcoming 13th general election: make no mistake. The women's vote isn't just half your constituency; it's your margin of victory. We would do well to remember that. 1. 2011 PEMANDU Annual Report. Pg 54. 2. The Star, 4 July 2011. "Police: Majority of rape victims are children". 3. The Star, 5 September 2012. "Kindie owner in rape case freed". 4. Malaysian Millennium Development Report 2010. Pg 58. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. |
| Posted: 06 Sep 2012 04:54 PM PDT SEPT 7 — Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Tunku Ahmad Nerang, the son of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first prime minister. At 79 years old, slightly over six feet in height, and with a booming voice, one could get carried away that one is actually with the former prime minister himself. My chat with him made me realise many things. I realised that Tunku Nerang and his family feel a sense of pride being of Tunku Abdul Rahman's lineage. And this should rightfully be. Tunku Abdul Rahman was a great man who contributed and sacrificed a lot for the country. I also realised that it was a different time then compared to now. It was a time when things were much simpler and happier. "My father used to say that he was the poorest prime minister and also the happiest prime minister," said Tunku Nerang. Although I never met the man, from the stories I heard of him, it sounded like he was a very carefree person, yet very honest and sincere. And because of him, it gave me the impression that the country of Malaysia (or the Federation of Malaya) at that time was one that was carefree, honest and sincere too. The mingling of different races seemed natural and symbiotic, instead of feeling manufactured, based on tolerance and superficiality. Tunku Abdul Rahman himself was of mixed Malay and Thai parentage, whose first wife was Chinese, and, after her premature death, he married a Caucasian. Now talk about 1 Malaysia! It seemed like it was a time when a Malaysian (or Malayan) could be just as comfortable and proud speaking English (or any other language), as he or she was speaking Malay. It really made me wish that I was around during those times, instead of in the Malaysia that I see and live in today. Instead, the Malaysia that I see and live in today seems to have an underlying resentment existing amongst the different races. The late Tunku Abdul Rahman had his vices and it wasn't a secret. Yet, somehow these vices actually made him human instead of a hypocrite. "My father left office a poorer man (in terms of wealth) than when he first entered it," said Tunku Nerang. In the Malaysia that I see today, many of the politicians seem to thrive financially once they enter office. And they do all that it takes to stay there. According to Tunku Nerang, his late father sold his own land and property to support his political party that had no money in the early years. Today, what I hear people saying is that the best opportunity to make money and become rich is to join that same party that Tunku Abdul Rahman sacrificed for. When Tunku Abdul Rahman died in 1990, I was only 12 years old and wasn't even living in the country so his death didn't really have an affect on me then. But now that I'm older (and forced to do research!) I found one photograph of the funeral that has stuck in my mind. It was a photo of people paying their last respects and right in front of all the people were several religious leaders of different faiths all standing in a line praying together. There was one question that I asked Tunku Nerang right at the end of my interview with him. His answer clearly rings in my head as I write this article. I had asked him what he thought his late father would say if he were alive now and seeing Malaysia as it is today. Tunku Nerang let out a loud guffaw. "Pak would say 'I have no idea what's going on now!'" * Watch out for the documentary "Tunku" on Astro Awani during the coming Malaysia Day celebrations. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. |
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