MARCH 8 — Parti Keadilan Rakyat has been empowering women in Malaysia for nearly two decades. Today, we have 15 out of 56 assemblyman in Selangor, out of which 2 are state executive councillors. This is already nearly 30 per cent of women representation achieved. We also have woman a senator and many women councillors in the local councils around the country. Moving forward, we will be having many more women candidates for the next general election.

All these are possible, only because more and more women have started to step forward to place themselves in positions of service to the community. Women leadership have brought great changes to our country and with these great changes, women are able to keep on contributing ideas and make important decisions that safeguard the country’s future.

For instance, gender equality in the workplace has enabled more women to take up managerial positions which then enable them to take up board positions in their organisation. When women are in the top management, they are able to make decisions with considerations towards women.

According to Bursa Malaysia women held 26.3 percent of top management positions across public listed corporations in 2015 while 15 percent women total the board of directors in incorporated companies.

The barrier that men had imposed on women for decades, stemming from cultural beliefs that women are weak or that women should stay at home no longer works for our society. That is the change we have been trying to implement. By empowering women, we make the necessary changes to benefit all women.

Let us not forget that slightly more than half of the world’s population consist of women and we have just as much right to decide on the things that affect our lives and the lives of our children. 

Women should have equal rights to an education, work opportunities, healthcare, benefits and all of these can only be realised when women are in the position to formulate policies and decide on important matters. Outdated cultural habits such as child marriages, arranged marriages and the stigma of being a divorcee or a single mother can be phased out as women become more aware and confident of themselves. For a start, women can stop belittling other women who do not conform to the society’s standard of a perfect mother, wife or daughter or sister. We need to comfort each other in times of need instead of joining the men to blame women for nearly everything that does or does not happen. When women start being confident of themselves, they will no longer laugh at sexist jokes, accept blame, and feel guilty or dirty for being a woman.

A woman’s worth is with herself and not by how others judge her. Not every woman can be a good cook and not every woman belong to the kitchen only. Women can be whatever she puts her mind to. Through the ages, we have outstanding women who have achieved a lot despite all the challenges. There are successful women in almost every industry and in every corner of the earth.

Not too long ago, two women judges were appointed to the Selangor Syariah Court. Then, we have the new woman CEO appointed for Maybank Berhad. There is a woman Mayor and a woman President in the Municipal Town Council of Penang. A woman used to be the Bank Negara Governor,  Bar Council Chairman, Chairman of the Securities Council. All these and many more examples of great women will inspire young women to dare to dream and to make a difference. Soon, we should have a many more women in positions of decision making.

All these women have heavy responsibilities towards their career yet they can still fulfill their duties at home. This skill of multi-tasking and playing multi-functional role is something that women are good at, and trained to be so from an early age. Perhaps parents unknowingly placed more responsibilities and expectations on their daughters than sons. And that is why boys grow up to be complacent and conveniently blame women all the time.

Every country would certainly benefit to have more women as leaders as women are evidently just as capable and not as narcissistic as men. Be bold for change!

* Zuraida Kamaruddin is the Member of Parliament for Ampang 

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.