Empowering women is a priority long neglected by BN. The advent of the PR administration in Selangor saw a concerted effort and focus redirected to this area. Some of the efforts have been so far-reaching that even the federal government has followed suit.

PR’s efforts at women empowerment was crystallised with the launching of its Women Well-Being Agenda (WWA) in 2010. It aims to assist women to be financially and economically independent and politically empowered and healthy.

From the onset PR’s aim at women empowerment was manifest, with the appointment of four women executive councillors (exco) and women constituting 10 percent of all local councillors, unprecedented in Malaysia.

Besides organising living skills workshops (such as sewing), entrepreneurial courses are also in the pipeline to assist women from plantation and estates to venture into business, in collaboration with women NGOs.

To back up its commitment, the state government has targeted to build 56 women-dedicated community centres throughout the state. Currently there are 19 existing centres in place, with 30 more due to be completed by end of 2012.

Micro-credit schemes have also been launched to assist the poor in getting a head start.

Maternal Concerns

 Selangor has also set the pace in providing leave compensation for its civil servants. Sweeping changes have been made – female civil servants get 90 days maternity leave while male staffs get 14 days paternity leave. Widowed civil servants also get 30 days compassionate leave.

Despite brickbats and heavy criticism from BN and private sector initially, even the federal government has followed suit in 2010 and HSBC Malaysia  has adopted the 90 days maternity leave (BERNAMA 25 June 2010).

Under the state’s Women Health Scheme, which is one of the MES programs, women in Selangor get free mammogram checkups.

According to Rodziah Ismail, state exco for women affairs, more than 20,000 women have gone through the programme. “Around 200 women have been identified as having breast cancer and have sought treatment accordingly. In fact a few have been healed too,” she added.

Selangor has also established the first Anti Human Traficking Council (MAPMAS) in Malaysia. MAPMAS will assist the anti-human trafficking efforts by monitoring human trafficking activities in the state through hotlines, one stop centres and initiating legal charges against the culprits

Helping The Cause

Some of the tangible efforts by Selangor to empower women:

Leadership – 4 state excos (highest in Malaysian history) and 10 percent of all local councillors are women

Physical Structures – 56 women-dedicated community centres to be built throughout the state

Leave – first state to implement 90 days maternity leave, 14 days paternity leave and 30 days compassionate leave for widowed women

MAPMAS – first anti-human trafficking body established by a government in Malaysia