MINISTER: MINISTRY IS STUDYING TO ENACT A GENDER EQUALITY ACT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- The Women, Family and Community
Development Ministry is currently studying the necessity to enact a Gender Equality Act as proposed by several non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Its minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the rationale for the
proposed act was the lack of punitive measures against discrimination towards
women.

"New situations and challenges suggest the need to develop possible and
permissible methods that necessitate fresh interpretations of fundamental
principles that are practicable in ever changing world and modern realities,"
she said.

She said this in her speech during the 7th Asian Law Institute Conference
organised by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), here Tuesday
night.

Also present were IIUM Rector Syed Arabi Idid, Deputy Director of
the Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) Professor Datuk Dr
Zaleha Kamaruddin and Director of Asian Law Institute, Prof Kumaralingham
Amirthaligam.


She said apart from studying to enact a Gender Equality Act, the Malaysian
government guaranteed equal sharing of resources, information, opportunities and
benefits of development for both men and women.

"Women are integrated into all sectors of development in accordance with
their capabilities and needs so as to enhance their quality of life, eradicate
poverty and eliminate illiteracy, with the ultimate aim of securing a peaceful,
harmonious and prosperous nation," she said.

The Domestic Violence Act 1994 is also under revision, among others to
expand the definition of domestic violence, provide victims with maximum
protection including restrictions placed on the abuser or suspected abuser to
maintain a specific distance from the victim, she said.

The ministry was hoping to table the first reading of the draft bill in
Parliament next month, she added.

-- BERNAMA