Najib: Women still under represented in workforce and politics

KUALA LUMPUR (May 28): While Malaysia has seen significant results from its efforts towards becoming an equitable nation, women still remain under represented in both politics and the workforce, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.In his keynote address at the Women Deliver Global Conference 2013 here, Najib highlighted Malaysia’s achievements in areas of education and maternal health care and services.

Malaysia has one of the lowest maternal mortality ratios in the region, having slashed its maternal mortality rate by 45% from 53 per 1000,000 in 1990 to 29 per 100,000 in 2010.“It is my hope that countries still lagging behind in meeting the 5th Millennium Development Goal will be able to learn from our experience,” Najib told the audience of royalty, dignitaries and global advocates and experts.

Present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also patron of the conference, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim and Women Deliver president Jill Sheffield.
“We stand ready to provide technical support to countries with persistently high maternal mortality,” said Najib.

The former Women, Family and Community Development Minister also pointed out that Malaysia’s investment in universal education without gender discrimination has yielded results “beyond expectations”.
“A girl at school in Malaysia today is more likely to go to university than her male classmates,” he said to applause from the audience.

“Today 65% of students enrolled in tertiary education are women. Consider this in light of what happened to Malala Yousafzai who dared to dream of having access to education."Malala, a Pakistani teenager and the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, last year survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban who were trying to stop her championing of education for girls.

However, Najib added, Malaysia’s challenge is to now ensure that such opportunities for girls and women do not narrow in the real world.Malaysian women make up 49% of the population and the electorate but only 47% of the country’s workforce.

The government has since committed itself to ensuring that women hold at least 30% of decision-making positions in the public and private sectors by 2016.“Women are still not equally represented in the workforce,” he stated. “Female labour participation which is currently at 47% must be improved if we want to continue seeing robust and sustainable growth.”

For this to happen, he said, more jobs aligned to women’s needs should be offered to encourage their participation in the workforce such as through home-based, part-time or flexible working hours.His administration aims to encourage this shift with reforms under the Economic Transformation Programme which is targeting an increase in female labour participation and the number of women on public listed company boards to 55% and 30% respectively.

“Furthermore, if we want to see equally sustainable democracy it is clear that we must increase women’s political participation,” Najib stated.“I am encouraged by the active and visible role taken by some women in our national politics. But I believe it is incumbent upon us to find out why women are under-represented in Malaysia’s political discourse.”

The recently concluded GE13 saw 23 women elected at parliamentary level and 57 women elected at state level.In total, women politicians now represent 11% of the country’s parliamentary and state seats which is still lower than the 30% target of the United Nations Committee on the Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Malaysia vote: PM Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional wins

Malaysia's ruling coalition has won a simple majority in the country's election, extending its 56-year rule.

The Election Commission said Prime Minister Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (BN; National Front) coalition won 133 of the 222 in parliamentary seats - its worst-ever election performance.

The opposition won 89 seats, up from 82, in Sunday's election.Defeated opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim accused the ruling coalition of widespread fraud.

Voters - some 80% of whom cast ballots - had been faced with returning the ruling coalition or choosing Mr Anwar's untested three-party alliance, Pakatan Rakyat.Malaysian shares reacted positively to news that the BN had won.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index jumped 6.8% to a lifetime high of 1,808.90 in early trade on Monday. The local currency, the ringgit, hit a 10-month high.

'Polarisation'

In the 2008 polls, the BN lost its two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time - something it failed to regain in these elections.

As the result was confirmed, Mr Najib, 59, urged all Malaysians to accept his coalition's victory but acknowledged there was work ahead.

"One of the programmes we will undertake is national reconciliation... I think we realise that there are a lot of things we have to do as a party," he said.He noted that ethnic Chinese voters had turned to the opposition, which has pledged to reform the government's affirmative action policies that benefit ethnic Malays, in what he called "a Chinese tsunami".

Anwar said irregularities cost him seats

"The results show a trend of polarisation which worries the government. If it is not addressed, it can create tension or division in the country," Mr Najib said.Unconfirmed reports suggested that the coalition did not receive a majority of the popular vote.

Tallies by independent online media gave the BN coalition 49% of the vote, which would make Mr Najib the first leader to win with a minority of the popular vote, AFP news agency reported.Mr Anwar, meanwhile, accused the authorities of widespread abuses which he said had distorted the result of the election."It is an election that we consider fraudulent and the Electoral Commission has failed," he told a news conference after midnight on Monday.

Election was considered Malaysia's most keenly contested poll since independence

PM Najib Razak leads the long-dominant coalition Barisan Nasional (National Front)

Anwar Ibrahim leads the three-party opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat Key poll issues included corruption, race-based policies that favour ethnic Malays, and the economy

Turnout was estimated at a record 80%, election officials said

"We see these irregularities have cost us many seats, particularly those with narrow margins," he said.

Allegations of election fraud had surfaced before the election. Some of those who voted in advance told BBC News that indelible ink on their hands - supposed to last for days and show they had already voted - had easily washed off.

The opposition also accused the government of funding flights for supporters to key states, which the government denied.Independent pollster Merdeka Center cited unconfirmed reports of foreign nationals being given ID documents and being allowed to vote.

There were also reports of attacks against independent media. Most traditional media in Malaysia are linked to the ruling parties.This result is a bitter blow to the opposition coalition, after a spirited campaign that tapped into a hunger for change among many younger Malaysians, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Kuala Lumpur reports.

They had believed a surge of support, especially in urban areas, would be enough to unseat a ruling coalition that has been in government for more than half a century, our correspondent adds.Thousands of opposition supporters swapped their Facebook profile photos for black boxes to show their dismay when they learned that the ruling coalition had retained power, AP news agency reported.

Malaysia’s economy ‘to pick up pace in 2H2013’

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — The Malaysian economy will pick up pace and grow further in the second half of this year following the moderate performance in the first quarter, says a leading banker.

Maybank president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar said the moderation in the gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter reflected the weak economic activities during the period.

“I expect the economy to pick up in the second half, driven by the removal of the political uncertainty and the government’s strong economic policy,” Abdul Wahid, who has been appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), told reporters after attending the SSM National Conference here today.

Bank Negara Malaysia announced last week that Malaysia’s GDP expanded by 4.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year amid the weaker external environment compared with 5.1 per cent in the same quarter last year and 6.5 per cent in the fourth quarter 2012.    

Abdul Wahid said the country’s economic driver would be the new government economic plans.

“The Maybank Investment segment has forecast about 5.3 per cent growth this year and the government expects about five to six per cent. I believe we should achieve somewhere along there,” he said.

Abdul Wahid said he was confident that Maybank Islamic would contribute one third to Maybank group’s earnings.“We expect the Islamic bank segment to contribute more and achieve one third by 2015,” he said, adding that currently Maybank Islamic contributed about 30 per cent to the Maybank group’s earnings.

He said the Islamic banking was growing especially in Malaysia.Asked on the bank’s succession plan, Abdul Wahid said the board of directors were in discussions to pick his successor.

“I’m sure the bank has a good succession plan and they probably need some time before making any announcement,” he said.Abdul Wahid said he would resign as Maybank president and chief executive officer on June 4.“But before this, let me complete my duties at Maybank, which will release its first quarter financial results on May 23,” he said.

Abdul Wahid described his new responsibility as the minister in charge of the EPU as a very challenging task.

“I’m very nervous on my new position as a minister, this is a public office, with a mammoth responsibility, but I’m honoured to serve the country.

“This is a great challenge and I will do my best,” he said.After helming three corporate giants, namely UEM Builders Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd and Maybank, he will take his oath of office as a senator on June 5 to assume his minister’s post. – Bernama  

Malaysians need to calm down and unite

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept remains relevant despite efforts to interpret the outcome of the 13th general election in a racial context, say analysts.

Political analyst Dr Ibrahim Ghafar said the main consideration is that the Barisan Nasional (BN) managed to win 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats.

“We have to bear in mind that the 1Malaysia concept has nothing to do with political preferences or ideologies.“Furthermore, its effectiveness thus far has been demonstrated by the majority of the people voting for moderation, which is represented by the BN,” he said.

Ibrahim said it cannot be denied that at first glance, 1Malaysia appears to be drowned by political ideologies and, in particular, by what the media keeps referring to as the ‘Chinese tsunami’ which garnered a big win for the opposition DAP.He stressed that this polarization was all the more reason for the 1Malaysia concept to be instilled and strengthened among the multiracial communities.

The DAP won 38 parliamentary seats on May 5 on the wave of solid Chinese support in the urban areas despite Chinese candidates from the BN contesting in the same seats.

“I believe, however, that there are still many Chinese who support the BN. There are many Chinese in the constituencies which the BN won.“Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has made it clear that his priority now is national reconciliation, and for the people to unite towards nation-building despite their political differences.

“And this is where the 1Malaysia concept should be promoted as a medium for racial unity,” he said.

‘Shed hardcore political beliefs’

Dr Noor Sulastry Yurni Ahmad, a senior lecturer at the Anthropology and Sociology Department, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya, is of the opinion that national integration will not be achieved if people refuse to shed their hardcore political beliefs.

“The prime minister introduced the 1Malaysia concept to bring the communities closer, to appreciate and implement all aspects of national unity regardless of political beliefs.“In fact, the concept also treats racial diversity as a basis to strengthen unity.

“What’s important now is that after the majority have given BN the mandate, the party must be given the chance and support to rectify weaknesses and deliver their promises in the next five years. As a peace-loving nation people should also continue supporting 1Malaysia,” she said.

A similar opinion was shared by Malaysian Indian Welfare Association president A Prakash who felt that 1Malaysia was a more suitable concept to unite the multiracial community, which could not be achieved through a political avenue.“We must be grateful for the peace we have and for the freedom to practice our religions and cultures,” he said.

Malaysian Youth Movement president Tan Pei Leong said the outcome of the general election should be accepted by everyone with an open heart.“We must close this chapter. Malaysians need to calm down and unite, and not provoke each other. We must give the government a chance to prove itself over the next five years,” he said.

I love BN

VOTE FOR  BARISAN NASIONAL

VOTE FOR BN

Reasons To Vote For BN This Election

It seems more and more likely that a general election will be called soon.. Why should we vote for

Barisan Nasional this time?

• BN will defend the Constitution. In BN, everyone is united behind the Constitution — no questioning the rights of this or that community which are enshrined in the Constitution
• BN will not treat the country like their personal fiefdom. Unlike some opposition parties which think Malaysia belongs to Allah/Anwar/Altantuya, BN firmly believes that the country belongs to the People
• Haven't you realised how much BN politicians sacrifice to serve the people? How on earth could they have the time and energy to develop a coterie of parasites living off the largesse of the rakyat's money through contracts for shoddy and unnecessary projects?
• BN will uplift the economically disadvantaged Bumiputra community. Many have argued that BN's pet policy to achieve this goal, the New EconomicPolicy, is not working, as it is not bearing any fruit; things are not much better for the Bumiputras despite 30 years of the NEP
•  Our brave and courageous leaders in BN are willing to forge a new path and do something no other country dares to do
• BN will continue to develop and improve our education system so it can produce thinking and creative Malaysians.
• BN shares power with all its component parties.
• BN will get tough on crime
• if you re-elect BN with a larger majority, you can be assured that the government will lock them up with its powers under the state of emergency that has been in force for 40 years to ensure they can never harm the country again.
• BN is not arrogant or self-serving. It certainly does not let power go to its head, and its leaders continue to make major sacrifices 
• if we re-elect BN, they will be able to continue serving us — unlike those arrogant egoists in the opposition who make a big fuss out of spending years in jail for criticising our wise and benevolent BN government.
• BN will ensure zero poverty in Malaysia. You might remember that the number one reason BN has been so successful in its stewardship of the country is because of how they have developed our economy
• Last but not least, BN will be fair and honest with all Malaysians. They will not discriminate against any class of Malaysians because of race or religion.

DPM: BN set for greatest challenge

PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Barisan Nasional (BN) has taken extraordinary steps in its efforts to win the hearts and minds of the people thanks to the lessons learnt following the coalition’s dismal performance in the 2008 general election.

In recalling BN’s dismal performance in that election, Muhyiddin said BN was now prepared ahead of its “greatest” challenge for the coming election.
“After the election in 2008, I went to every state to meet party leaders from all levels (for a post-mortem). I discovered that some of our men’s morale was very low.

“In Selangor, they were monyok (despondent), lethargic and some resorted to vent their anger on each other. A number felt rather threatened (politically) and could not dish out their services effectively as a party.
“But our prime minister was aware of the matter and decided to take action to mend the situation. That is why we take drastic measures, which include holding hundreds of (political) courses for our party members,” he said in his speech yesterday, during a meeting with Council of Former Elected Representatives of Malaysia (Mubarak) and Federal Territories Umno Senior Retirees Club.

At the same time, Muhyiddin said BN component parties such as MIC and MCA which suffered worse problems than Umno, were told to quickly reform their lines since the losses did not only mar the image of Umno but the other parties in the coalition as well.
“Gerakan especially, was almost crippled when most of the seats held were lost. The same went for MCA and MIC at that time. Other component parties had become low-spirited after 2008.
“This is why a number of efforts have been taken continuously to rejuvenate BN.”

Touching on the current trans-formation of the government, Muhyiddin said it would be carried out beyond the general election in several institutions as part of ongoing efforts to further strengthen the economic standing of the people.

Although he did not specify details of the said revamp, he stressed the importance of continuously improving the socio-economic standing of the people with regard to fulfilling the objectives of seven National Key Result Areas.

Meanwhile, speaking at another function, Muhyiddin said the government was planning to open 1Malaysia bookstores nationwide to encourage reading and promote local literature.
In his speech during his visit to the first 1Malaysia bookstore that was opened in Kuala Lumpur, Muhyiddin said the government iniative in opening such bookstores will also help the underprivileged to own reading materials at affordable prices.
Muhyiddin noted that people’s perception and thoughts were often influenced by reading and writing materials regardless of genre.
He added that this was why writers played an important role in shaping the nation towards its vi-sion of becoming a developed country.

Earlier, Muhyiddin launched 10 books written by local women writers. There are now four branches of 1Malaysia bookstores, at Pudu Sentral station, Wangsa Maju, Ipoh and Kuantan.
At another function, Muhyiddin launched the RM200 million redevelopment of the Raja Bot market or better known as the Chow Kit market.

He said the project would transform the image of the surrounding areas such as Chow Kit, Jalan Raja Bot and Jalan Raja Alang into a more positive one.

Speed Up Political Reform to Engage Youth, Urges Khairy

 Is it possible that Umno's rising star and likely future leader is getting restless? His speech to the Umno Youth Assembly Wednesday was as inspiring as we would expect from the youth leader but included a call to get a move on which was aimed at the Federal Government.

He focussed on training, youth jobs and financial assistance aimed at helping young people but then he told the Government it needs to pick up the pace of political reform to better engage with youth.

Addressing an audience containing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah he said: "UMNO Youth advocates that the government continue this political transformation so that the younger generation does not have to look elsewhere for political reform."

"When young people think of change, we want them to believe that BN (Barisan Nasional) is the ultimate choice," he said.

This was hardly a call for revolution within Umno but Khairy's sense of urgency should not be ignored. Umno has been in Government for five and a half decades and for most of the time it is fair to say reform has not been the top priority.

The Najib Government, shaped by GE12, has been different. Political reforms such as the scrapping of the ISA have been monumental but it could also be argued, a long time coming. For Khairy that is a perception Umno needs to deal with if it is to attract the next generation of voters.

The Bersih violence was youth impatience in action. By the time the rally arrived it had become such a broad cause that it is impossible to say what any particular individual was protesting. After all most taking part knew the lion's share of the voting reforms had by then been agreed to.

But the restlessness of the young was palpable, hence Khairy's call Wednesday to make his party synonymous with political (and therefore generational) change.

After his address it is unlikely that Najib would have taken Khairy to task for breaking ranks as the Umno President is one of the first to admit BN in Government has been too slow to change. Najib is actually often frustrated that he cannot push reforms even faster.

But with the seismic political transformation we have seen in 2012 and the success of the Economic Transformation Programme that has been praised by the World Bank and the IMF, few people can say that Malaysia at the end of 2012 is the same nation it was at GE12.

Khairy deserved his moment in the spotlight at the Umno General Assembly because this has been his year. When someone from BN was required to take Pakatan to task over its dribble of populist promises throughout 2012 such as its plan to scrap PTPTN, the Government didn't call upon a cabinet minister but Khairy. That way when he told PKR Strategic Director Rafizi Ramli that his promises would cost RM23 billion, the rakyat could see the youth leadership of both parties on show.

And what a contrast it has been. While Khairy has been getting on with making a name for himself in Umno, Rafizi has been a casualty of the PKR Selangor civil war and faces criminal charges for making public confidential financial records over the NFC affair.

Azmin Ali, the man Khairy debated live on television in May, has all but abandoned his national ambitions settling instead for a tilt at the Selangor Menteri Besar's job – even if he has to stage a coup to get it.

The third "bright spark" in PKR, Nurul Izzah Anwar, has dealt her ambitions a self-inflicted blow with her comments about Muslims choosing their religion.

PKR is a party that seems to have given up nurturing the next generation of leadership. The enthusiasm of the Umno Youth event here at the general assembly is a sign that Umno's next generation is energetic and if Khairy is anything to go by, ready for Najib to introduce more change after GE13.