This is a draft of the speech for Hon. Senator Dr Wan Martina Wan Yusoff delivered during the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) Women Parliamentary Meeting held on the 26 to 29th October 2022.
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh and Good Morning.
Honourable Chairperson, Secretary, and distinguished ladies and gentlemen. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the organiser for giving me the honour and privilege to participate in this Meeting of Women Parliamentarians.
May I also congratulate the Thailand Parliament for its commendable efforts in hosting the 30th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum.
I am delighted that we can come together to discuss how we can keep women, and their voices, rights, and contributions, throughout this post-pandemic recovery and beyond.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Women have contributed significantly in all areas: economy, social, political and cultural. Malaysian women have made significant progress since independence in 1957 facilitated by inclusive policies, strategic and action plan developed by the government.
The Government has and continues to undertake numerous efforts to ensure that women are able to realise their full potential and participate effectively in the economic and social development of the country.
|Various capacity-building programmes have been laid out to provide more opportunities and ensure they are able to generate income to improve their living conditions. Among income-generating programmes offered are the Single Mothers Special Assistance (BKIT) Scheme Programme, Wanita Bangkit Initiative, and MyKasih Kapital Assistance Programme
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
COVID-19, quarantines and lockdown are hitting women hardest. Especially in high female labour force participation industries such as travel, tourism, restaurants, food production and in the informal sector jobs – domestic workers and caregivers, which impact their health and safety.
This vulnerable group is excluded from contributory and tax-financed health coverage and social benefit protections, such as pensions, social insurance, paid sick leave, or parental and care leave. As a result, they are most likely to be the first to lose the income crucial for them, their families, communities, and societies.
Hence, the post-COVID-19 economic recovery must address the barriers women faced at all levels: individual, institutional, and socio-cultural, to create an enabling environment that would strengthen and empower women’s voices. These require collaborative efforts among states, civil society, and the international community.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Malaysia believes it is timely for APPF member countries to embrace and embed a fair and equitable economy across income groups, ethnicities, geographical regions, and supply chains to improve the well-being of our people and enable them to have a more decent living standard. In the long run, this will allow the Asia-Pacific member countries to be more sustainable and relevant as a Group.
On that note, I wish to call upon APPF Member Countries, particularly APPF Women Parliamentarians, to give strong support to women’s voices and let them champion the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
I am sure we share a common concern, and I look forward to future collaborations with you.
Thank you.
