FES International Policy Analysis Unit

FES Journal - International Politics and Society

GENDER ISSUES - MALAYSIA

In terms of economics and politics, Malaysian women were less affected by the Asian Crisis than in other countries of Southeast Asia. Educational institutions are quite accessible to women. Many young women are very successful in the fields of law and medicine. In order to ensure that an adequate number of young women achieve higher positions, the National Congress of Women's Organizations (NCWO, which is the largest umbrella organization of Malaysian women's agencies, has established a mentor program. In it successful women in politics and other fields offer guidance, training, supervision and advice to young 'protegees'. These programs run for three years and are supported by the government.

After the parliamentary elections in November, 1999, the percentage of women's participation in the Lower House amounted to 10.4 per cent. In the current cabinet there are two female ministers (8 per cent) and two female deputy ministers. Since 1990, the Minister for Women has been placed in the Ministry of National Unity and Social Development. With the beginning of the new session, however, the Minister for Women is part of the Prime Minister's Office.

Women's NGOs in Malaysia are very engaged and demand laws forbidding discrimination against women and requiring fair wages. Gender studies programs have been set up in a number of institutions of higher learning and four universities in the country have research centers focusing on women's advancement studies and programs.

Despite the establishment of a 'quasi-ministry for women' directly under the Prime Minister's office and the high level of female employment (77 per cent), Malaysian women still do not enjoy equal opportunities. It seems that there is still a lot of work to do before equal rights for women becomes an official objective of the Malaysian government.