A press statement from AWAM followed by a campaign by SIS; do do the 'sistahood thingy' if u can!
PRESS STATEMENT
AMENDMENTS TO THE ISLAMIC FAMILY LAW BILL (FEDERAL TERRITORIES), 2005
In response to the Bill on the amendments to the Islamic Family Law,
the All Women's Action Society (AWAM) wishes to voice its grave
concerns on the substance of the amendments as well as the manner with
which the Bill was passed.
While AWAM acknowledges the need to reform the Islamic Family Law and
welcomes the Government's efforts on this matter, the weaknesses in
these amendments mean that they are a step back rather than forward in
according justice to all. We are greatly alarmed by the amendment
extending fasakh to men, who already have the right to talaq, while a
woman's right to seek divorce remain unchanged. The loosening of
conditions for polygamy, wherein a man now only has to prove that the
polygamous marriage is necessary, will worsen rather than resolve the
problem of irresponsible husbands taking on another wife despite being
unable or unwilling to provide for their first wives and children.
Even superficially progressive amendments on the issue of matrimonial
property have been shown to be extremely vulnerable to misuse. The use
of gender neutral language does not always translate into gender
equality in situations where there is already a sharp imbalance of
power in reality. A woman's right to property has already been eroded
by Section 107A, which enables a husband to obtain a court injunction
to prevent the disposition of property by his wife or former wife. We
are concerned that women who are faced with abusive treatment by their
husbands will now stay silent, for fear of being dispossessed of their
rightful property when obtaining divorce.
AWAM questions the need for the Bill to be rushed through Parliament,
to the extent that Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime
Minister's Department, invoked the Whip to ensure that Barisan
Nasional senators vote for the Bill. We have yet to hear a good
rationale on why this must be so, as returning the Bill to Dewan
Rakyat for further debate seems to be the most efficient method of
addressing problems associated with this Bill. Namely: loopholes
within the amendments which may lead to further injustice against
women, and the lack of reasonable time in which to study the Bill in
depth.
"That's our system" is no excuse for strong-arm tactics on any piece
of legislation, let alone a Bill on which many reservations have been
aired, not only by women's organisations but also by members of Dewan
Negara. Even if the loopholes in the Bill will be closed in the
future, how will it be of use to women who are adversely affected by
these amendments before further changes could be made?
AWAM is of the opinion that the public must be involved in the process
of creating laws of this nature. We all have a stake in this. The
repercussions of this Bill touch every strata of society, including
non-Muslims, who live side-by-side with Muslims as their friends,
neighbours, co-workers, and even family. It is essential for the
Government to be more responsive to the needs of the people, who
should have been consulted in the first place. Unfortunately, it is
only very recently that reservations over this Bill have become part
of public discourse, too late for the people to make their voices
heard before the Bill becomes law.
We urge the Government to immediately act on their word in rectifying
the shortcomings of this Bill.
ALL WOMEN'S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
--
Yasmin Masidi
Media Coordinator
All Women's Action Society (AWAM)
85 Jalan 21/1, Sea Park
46300 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7877 4221
Fax: 03-7874 3312
-----------------
Dear friends
I'm attaching our press statements and memo to Dewan Senate as background info as well as a draft letter which you could use. I would very much appreciate if you, family members and friends could write letters to PM and the other two ministers as well as letters to the editors as suggeted below.
Thank you for your support.
In solidarity
Zuriah
Here are some suggestions and a sample lettter that you, family members and friends
could do to support against the implementation of the Islamic Family Law Bill that
was passed by Parliament recently.
Salams
Zuriah
Dear friends,
In spite of voices of dissent in the Senate, Parliament sadly passed the Islamic Family Law Bill
that further erodes the rights of Muslim women in this country. This not only contradicts the
government’s commitment towards justice and equality, but has already begun to have an
impact on women’s lives, causing gross injustice.
There are two actions you can take to address this latest development:
1. Write to the 3 Ministers – ! the PM, the Minister of Women’s Affairs and the Minister for Religion
(their addresses, and a sample letter attached below : the sample letter
is as a guidance and please feel free to add or edit it if you wish).
(Try to write to the Malay press too if possible!)
2. Write letters to the editors expressing your concern about these latest amendments
and the process that went on in Parliament. Lists of the email addresses of the editors
are also given below.
You could highlight some or all of the following:
· Express your concerns regarding the impacts of this Amendments Bill.
· Ask that this IFL Amendments Bill, 2005, not be gazetted and enforced, and that
the existing 1984 Islamic Family Law remains in force.
· That a moratorium be put on the application of the law for the states that have gazetted
the laws.
· Support the call by women’s groups for a new model Muslim Family Law based
on the principles of justice and equality to deal with the realities of changing times and
circumstances affecting Muslim men, women and the family institution in Malaysia today.
· Calling for the formation of a parliamentary select committee to hold public hearings
and get public feedback from all the states.
This would enable the public to participate democratically in the process of decision
making on a law that governs their personal lives.
Letters do make a difference. So if you wish to lend your support to this matter,
this is definitely one way in which you can help! Please forward this email to your
contacts and ask them to join this letter-writing effort and exercise our rights as civil society.
Thank you and warm regards,
Sisters in Islam
on behalf of the Joint Action Group on Gender Equality
Newspaper editors
News Straits Times : fax 03-2284 8248 / ! 03-2282 3001 / 03-2284 9144
email: letters@nstp.com.my
The Malay Mail : fax 03-2284 9133
email: mailbag@nstp.com.my
The Sunday Mail : fax 0! 3-22821434
email: mmnews@nstp.com.my
Star Publications (M'sia) Bhd : fax 03-7954 2544
email: editor@thestar.com.my
The Sun : fax 03-7785 2624
email: letters@thesundaily.com
Malaysiakini : 03-2289 2579
email: editor@malaysiakini.com
Utusan Malaysia : fax 03-9222 7876 / 03-9223 6031 / 03-9223 9854
(surat kpd Pengarang)
email: pendapat@utusan.com.my
Berita Harian : fax 03-2282 2425 / 03-2284 4978
email: bh@bharian.com.my
Harian Metro : fax 03-2284 8390 / 03-2284 6133
email: bhnews@bharian.com.my / sazarina@bharian.com.my
Bernama : fax 03-2698 1102
email: bgns@bernama.com.my
KOSMO : fax 03-9221 8590
email: farizwan@kosmo.com.my
Ministers addresses
Dato' Sri Abdullah Perdana Menteri
Pejabat Perdana Menteri
Bangunan Perdana Putra
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62502 Putrajaya
Tel : 03 8888 8000
Fax: 03 8888 3444
YB Prof. Datuk Dr. Abdullah bin Md Zin,
Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri,
Bangunan Perdana Putra
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62502 Putrajaya
Tel : 03 8888 8000
Fax: 03 8888 3444
Dato' Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat,
Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Malaysia
Aras 1-6, Blok E,
Kompleks Pejabat Kerajaan Bukit Perdana,
Jalan Dato' Onn
50515 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA.
Tel: 03-2693 0095
Faks: 03-2693 4982
E-mail: info@kpwkm.gov.my
Sample Letter
Yang Amat Ber! hormat/ Yang Berhormat Dato’ …….,
Saya/kami amat kecewa terhadap keputusan Dewan Negara yang telah meluluskan Undang-Undang Keluarga Islam Wilayah Persukutuan (UUKIWP) pada hari Khamis 22 Disember 2005 .
Saya/kami amat risau dan khuatir memandangkan undang-undang tersebut akan memberi kesan buruk dan menjejaskan kesejahteraan ibu/isteri dan anak-anak yang akan jadi mangsa bapa/suami yang tak bertanggungjawab ketika si suami /bapa berkahwin lagi atau menceraikan isterinya. Ketidakadilan dan kesengsaraan yang dialami oleh para isteri dan anak-anak mereka ini juga tentunya tidak sejajar dengan komitment kerajaan dalam memastikan keadilan dan kesaksamaan.
Oleh itu, saya/kami ingin memohon agar:
dapat diwujudkan suatu Undang-undang Keluarga Islam (UUKI) baru yang dapat menjunjung prinsip keadilan dan kesamarataan hak seperti yang dianjurkan oleh agama Islam sendiri.
UUKIWP yang baru diluluskan ini tidak digazettekan agar ia tidak boleh diguna pakai pada peringkat pelaksanaan.
mana-mana negeri yang telah pun menggazettekan pindaan UUKI , agar menghentikan penggunaannya serta-merta agar ia tidak boleh diaplikasikan dan seterusnya menganiaya para isteri dan anak-anaknya.
dapat diwujudkan suatu jawatankuasa khas di peringkat Parlimen agar dapat mendengar dan menerima timbalbalas dari rakyat di semua negeri-negeri di Malaysia, terutamanya yang mendapat kesan terus dari UUKI ini.
Sekian, semoga tindakan segera dapat diambil bagi memperbaiki keadaan ini. Segala perhatian dan keperihatinan YAB/YB, amat saya/kami hargai dan didahului dengan ucapan ribuan terima kasih.
Dengan tulus ikhlas dan penuh harapan,
_______________________________________
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