MALAYSIA WOMEN'S SUMMIT STRIVES TO IMPROVE LIVES

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000720

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

FOR S/GWI AND EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA WOMEN'S SUMMIT STRIVES TO IMPROVE LIVES
OF WOMEN


1. (SBU) Summary and Comment: At Malaysia's August 18
"Women's Summit 2009," Women's Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
called for placing more women in decision-making positions,
while Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin asserted that
their was no difference between men and women under Islam.
The summit attracted over 1,000 participants, including a
U.S. speaker from the Dell Global Business Center.
Ambassador Keith attended, as did representatives from many
other embassies. For next year,s summit, in August, Post
recommends Department consider formal USG participation from
Washington. End Summary and Comment.


2. (SBU) The Ministry of Women, Family and Community
Development has been hosting an annual summit on women's
issues since 2003, in conjunction with the National Women's
day celebrations every August. The brainchild of the
Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Shahrizat
Abdul Jalil, the main objective is to explore issues and top
management concerns facing Malaysian women in business and
the workplace; to develop an action agenda to optimize
women's skills and management expertise for national
development; and to provide policy input. (Note: Minister
Shahrizat was also responsible for successfully pushing for a
constitutional amendment barring gender discrimination in
August 2001. End Note). This year's summit was held on
August 18 with the participation of 1,000 delegates from all
over the world. Ambassador Keith attended the summit at the
invitation of the Minister.


3. (SBU) In her address themed "Can Women turn adversity into
opportunity?", Minister Shahrizat identified four major
adversities facing women in Malaysia today: the repercussions
of the recession; work-life balance; the gender gap; and
violence against women. She pointed out that women have been
hardest hit by the current global economic downturn in
Malaysia. As of March 2009, nearly 51 percent of the 19,224
local workers laid off were women, although they only amount
to 36 percent of the total labor force. She also urged
companies and organizations to make necessary changes in the
working environment that would change the mindset and promote
"shared family responsibility between the husbands and
wives." Due to this lack in work-life balance in Malaysia,
the country slipped to 96th place from the 92nd place (in the
previous year) in the World Economic Forum's "The Global
Gender Gap Report 2008," a clear indication that that women
in Malaysia are still underrepresented at the higher levels
of corporate and political life, despite women outperforming
men at universities and colleges. The Minister said her
Ministry is currently putting together an Action Plan "to
fast track women into decision-making positions in both the
public and private sectors." On the margins of the
conference, Minister Shahrizat told the Ambassador that she
was pleased at the strong support her ministry was receiving
from PM Najib's office.


4. (U) Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Muhyiddin Yassin, who
officiated the opening of the summit, acknowledged that there
is still a need to further improve the participation of women
at decision-making levels in both the public and private
sectors, and for a more gender-responsive and just society.
He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib
Tun Razak, the government has embarked in policies that
stress the partnership of both women and men in rebuilding
the "nation with strength and integrity." In this context,
Muhyiddin stated "in Islam there is absolutely no difference
between men and women" and that the Koran "admonishes those
men who oppress or ill treat women." DPM Muhyiddin pointed
out that the GOM has agreed that women should hold 30 percent
of senior positions in the public sector and wants the
private sector to emulate this policy. The Minister added
that although women holding higher positions in the private
sector increased gradually from 14 percent in 2004 to 26
percent in 2008, their representation in the board of
companies declined from 10 percent in 2004 to 6 percent in

2008. Furthermore, only 12 percent of women hold top
positions in government-linked companies. He welcomed
Minister Shahrizat's Action Plan to fast track women to
decision-making positions. He also stated that the
government has drawn up numerous policies to create a more
conducive and family friendly working environment to ensure
women continue to work despite family responsibilities.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Minister of Education, stressed
that "promoting gender justice and women's empowerment are
not only essential to our economic development, but also a
great leap forward in nation building."
KEITH