A salute to Malaysian womanhood

This is a tribute to all Malaysian women in conjunction with International Women’s Day on 8 March. As
the nation celebrates its half century of independence, it is only
right and proper that the sacrifices and contributions to
nation-building of Malaysian women be acknowledged and appreciated.

It
appears gender equality in Malaysia is light years away, what with
Umno parliamentarians and state assemblymen making uncivilised and
crude remarks when issues such as rape, sexual harassment and
marriage and divorce matters are discussed. It is amazing that the
women’s wings of the Barisan component parties keep deaf and dumb
when this happens though they are mainly responsible for harnessing
grassroots support for the Barisan during election time. Malaysian
women have been shortchanged for far too long and Aliran calls upon
them not to tolerate it any more.

Aliran
takes cognisance of the fact that:

“Woman

was
created from the rib

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of
man

Not
from his head

to
top him

Neither
from his feet

to
be walked upon

She
was made

from
his side

to
be his equal.

From
beneath his arm

to
be protected by him

From
very near his heart

to
be loved by him.”

Aliran
abhors all forms of discrimination and injustice perpetrated against
women. We condemn all kinds of violence against women. We join the
poet, William Heale (1609), who cried out:

“No
lions rage against the lioness:

The
tiger to the tigress is not fierce:

No
eagles do their fellow birds oppress:

The
hawk does not, the hawk with telons pierce:

All
couples live in love by nature’s law,

Why
should not man and wife do this and more?”

Aliran
urges Malaysian women to be like their proud suffragette predecessors
and assert their rights and be instrumental in bringing about the
much-needed and meaningful change that our beloved country needs.
Remember that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Show
the powers-that-be that you are capable too of rocking the boat when
things are falling apart in our country.

The
general elections are round the corner. Use your ballot wisely. Mao
Tse Tung said that women hold up half the sky. That is how much
power you have collectively.

There
is a beautiful saying that God could not be everywhere, so he
invented mothers. Aliran salutes all Malaysian mothers for valiantly
managing hearth and home, and bringing up our future generations and
thereby contributing to the educational and socio-economic
development of the nation. Aliran salutes too all sisters, daughters
and granddaughters who in one way or another are building the nation.
Noble ladies, you are half our future.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama

1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme

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