That is Women, Family and Community Development Minister
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s dream for the future.
“There are many qualified women in the legal profession. I don’t see why, one
day not long from now, we can’t have a woman chief justice.
“I hope this day will come sooner rather than later,” she said at the 14th
Malaysian Law Conference 2007 yesterday.
When asked if a woman would be succeeding Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh
Abdul Halim, who is retiring tomorrow, she said that was the prerogative of
those in power.
“What is important to me is women must be given places if they are qualified and
have the ability to perform that job.”
Ahmad Fairuz, 65, is on leave prior to compulsory retirement and Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had said that the government had yet to decide
on the appointment of the new chief justice.
Shahrizat, who was speaking on gender equality and its current achievements and
future challenges, said there was an almost equal number of male and female
lawyers in Malaysia — with 45.7 per cent of registered lawyers in the country
being female.
However, the number of female judges was still lagging, she said.
There were only three women out of 21 Court of Appeal judges and 13 women out of
48 High Court judges, while only five out of 16 judicial commissioners were
women.
On political representation, Shahrizat said with women making up 49.1 per cent
of the total population, women had to do better in the political arena.
In nine general elections until 1999, she said women contesting as state
assembly candidates had never exceeded five per cent and for parliament, it was
not more than 7.3 per cent.
“In fact, in 1974, only eight women contested for parliament seats compared with
282 men. The election that saw the most number of women members of parliament
was in 2004, with 21 MPs.
“In the political field, I’m not satisfied with the opportunities given to women
for decision-making positions.
“At the state level, as well, I hope in the coming general election, all the
menteris besar will take another look at the opportunities given to women.”
Shahrizat said a total change in mindset to accept gender equality was difficult
to achieve overnight.
“Hence, we need to think out of the box and sometimes adopt a new line of
vision.
“Only then will we see an increased participation, particularly of men, in
gender sensitisation programmes,” added Shahrizat.
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KUALA LUMPUR: A woman chief justice for Malaysia?
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