Contemporary Matters Affecting Muslims Today A Sisters in Islam Bulletin NO.9 / NOV 2020 Political Uncertainty and a Pandemic Empowering Voices For Change SIS FORUM (MALAYSIA) (266561 W) MUSLIM WOMEN SPEAK BARAZA! NO. 9 2 A SISTERS IN ISLAM BULLETIN Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sisters in Islam (SIS) would like to thank: Nadia Mohd Rasidi and Jacqueline Ann Surin for Editorial Employment Act contributing their articles; and SIS 2 9 staff for their assistance. BARAZA! is a resource primarily From Pakatan Covid-19, Labour, for activists; policy makers; Harapan to Perikatan and the Economy academics and students of law, Islamic and gender studies; and SIS Nasional: What 10 funders and supporters. Does This Mean for Women in Malaysia? Malaysian Youth It provides: * a focus on contemporary matters 4 and Covid-19 affecting Muslims today, especially 12 women’s rights in Islam Women, Leadership * resources for reference and Decision-Making Parlimen Digital 5 13 FOLLOW US ON Twitter: @sistersinislam Instagram: @sistersinislam.my Malaysia’s First Other Issues Facebook: @OFFICIALSIS Woman Chief and Debates YouTube: @sistersinislamMYS Justice 14 6 Please send comments, Conclusion suggestions, requests, bouquets Gender-Based 15 or brickbats to: Violence BARAZA! EDITORIAL TEAM 7 SIS Forum (Malaysia) (266561 W) (Sisters in Islam) No. 4, Lorong 11/8E Child Marriage 46200 Petaling Jaya 9 Selangor, MALAYSIA T: +60 3 7960 3357 / +60 3 7960 5121 / +60 3 7960 6733 F: 603 7960 8737 E: [email protected] W: www.sistersinislam.org EDITORIAL TEAM Rozana Isa Syarifatul Adibah DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION Shao-Lyn Low Azlan Ariff studio.eatsshootsandroots.com COPY-EDITING tan beng hui ISSN 1823-5263 3 BARAZA! NO. 9 EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY AND A PANDEMIC alaysia currently faces the twin chal ven before the pandemic was declared, the nation Ewas already in crisis. In late February 2020, political machinations within two Pakatan Harapan (PH) parties led to the fall of the democratically-elected government, after less than two years in power. The new backdoor government of DROP IN REPRESENTATION Additionally, it was under the PH Perikatan Nasional (PN), led by government that a significant number Muhyiddin Yassin, paved the return to of women were appointed to top judicial power of UMNO (United Malays National he pandemic has been Organisation) whose former president unfortunate for Malaysia’s positions. A woman was appointed for and Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Tdemocracy. The dramatic the first time as Chief Justice of Malaysia. Najib Razak has been found guilty of change in government has also Another was appointed as the Court of all charges in a 1MDB-linked graft case. had a terrible impact on the rights, Appeal president, the judiciary’s second Several other party leaders, including its inclusion, and protection of women highest position. Three women appellate current president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and girls. judges were also elevated to the Federal continue to face corruption charges. Court. Additionally, the coup led to PAS, with To be clear, it wasn’t like the PH its aims for an Islamic theocracy, being government fulfilled its election Once PN swept into power, these gains included in the federal government. manifesto of having at least 30 per cent – except in the judiciary – were quickly women in policymaking positions after undone. Under PN’s enlarged cabinet, Citizen groups protested in pockets. it came to power in May 2018. However, women only comprise 13 per cent of the However, most Malaysians were soon it did increase the number of women current cabinet compared to 18 per cent more focused on having a government in the cabinet to five from three under under PH. There is no longer a woman that could see them through the pandemic, than agitating for a return of the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy prime minister. Unlike their PH the government they voted for. government. It also appointed Wan counterparts, the current Minister and Azizah Wan Ismail as Malaysia’s first Deputy Minister for Women, Family and woman Deputy Prime Minister. Even Community Development have done little though she could have done more to to forward the women’s rights agenda. advocate for women’s rights, at least Under the guise of ending political she improved the social safety net for appointments, several qualified women housewives through I-Suri, and sought were replaced as heads of government- to tackle the vexatious issue of child linked bodies midway through their marriage through a comprehensive terms by politically-connected men. national plan. PH also appointed several women to high-profile positions in entities such as the Human Resource Development Fund, Bursa Malaysia, Majlis Amanah Rakyat, and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. 4 A SISTERS IN ISLAM BULLETIN PROTECTION FOR WOMEN IMPACT OF COVID-19 HOW MANY STEPS AND GIRLS STALLED BACKWARDS? ne of the casualties of the political he pandemic’s economic impact uring PH’s 22 months in upheaval has been the Sexual on women was especially government, the coalition took Harassment Bill. The bill was immediate. In Malaysia, a quarter a few notable steps forward in Oscheduled to be tabled in Parliament Tof women who work are either self- Dimproving the protection and rights in March 2020. In July, however, Rina employed, informal workers, or unpaid of women and children. Its election Harun, the newly-appointed Women, family workers. manifesto made it easier for citizens Family and Community Development to hold the coalition accountable. At Minister announced that the bill had to This places them in an economically the same time, the inclusion of former be resubmitted for the current cabinet’s vulnerable position during a lockdown. Opposition Members of Parliament consideration and approval. Women are particularly affected by how and former civil society activists in frontline workers are treated. Comprising government meant more socially- Of concern is the fact that the PN 97 per cent of all nurses here, more conscious policies and programmes. coalition, which coalesced as a matter of women are at risk than men. Women also political expediency midway through an make up the majority of service staff who It wasn’t perfect and, in some instances, election cycle, does not have a manifesto, support healthcare facilities, including less than satisfactory. Still, it was better what more a clear policy promise on cleaners and caterers, adding to their than under the previous BN rule. Many women’s rights. Moreover, it is evident overall risk profile. of the gains under PH were the result that the current administration severely of the decades-long persistence and lacks a gender perspective. Under the PN government’s Prihatin diligence of human rights activists and Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package, civil society organisations. It was also the For example, in a series of public service nine million Malaysians were eligible for mobilisation and support of these groups announcements released in March 2020, Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) cash that led to the BN’s eventual downfall in Rina Harun provided tips on how women payments. However, the package did not the May 2018 elections. could avert domestic conflict during the cover many individuals most susceptible national lockdown. Among others, it to financial precarity. This included Malaysia now has a backdoor advised women to take on the voice of a vulnerably-employed women, female- government that the people did not cartoon character with their partners, heads of households, and domestic vote for. Moreover, many of those essentially asking women to infantilise violence survivors. who are back in power were the same themselves. Then in April, Siti Zailah politicians who perpetuated a system of Mohd Yusoff, Deputy Minister for Women, ethnocentrism, sexism, and human rights Family and Community Development, abuses. who is also the PAS Wanita chief, posted MANY OF THESE WOMEN a five-minute video. This offered tips on Significantly, Sisters in Islam (SIS) and how to manage domestic violence during ALSO FACED BARRIERS other NGOs have been fairly quiet about an extended lockdown. Among others, TO ACCESSING THE these developments, and not been more she advised perpetrators to keep calm PROPOSED TRANSFERS vociferous in critiquing the lack of and quiet until their anger subsided. To FOR B40 AND M40 progress for women’s rights and gender victims, she said to use the “magic words” equality under PN. HOUSEHOLDS. BPN of “thank you” and “I’m sorry”. PAYMENTS WERE At the time of this writing, political Plans to enact a Gender Equality Act, DIRECTLY TRANSFERRED uncertainty remains rife. The country which gained greater momentum under TO THE HEAD OF is also experiencing another wave of the PH government, are now up in the air. THE HOUSEHOLD, Covid-19 infections, which will exacerbate After PN came to power, the much-needed TYPICALLY A MALE. THIS the economic slowdown. National Strategic Plan to Address the PREVENTED WOMEN IN Causes of Underage Marriage was also Studies have shown that empowering ABUSIVE MARRIAGES shelved. The five-year plan launched women is the key to sustainable in January 2020 was meant to curb AS WELL AS SURVIVORS development and economic advancement. the problem of child marriages at the WHO ARE SEPARATED grassroots. What is distressing is that BUT NOT YET DIVORCED, Unfortunately, with the uncertainties PAS, which is now in federal power, has FROM RECEIVING of politics and a pandemic, we can in the past refused to recognise child be certain the rights, protection, and FINANCIAL HELP marriages as a problem. Indeed, in a inclusion of women and girls will once parliamentary debate in July 2017, Siti again be de-prioritised by those in power. Zailah argued that syariah law allowed child marriages. Kuala Lumpur 23 October 2020 5 BARAZA! NO. 9 From Pakatan Harapan to Perikatan Nasional: What Does This Mean for Women in Malaysia? On the 24th of February 2020, that lost in the last General Election.