MALAYSIA has seen a change of government yet there are still no efforts to reform the law to protect the rights of women and children, said women’s advocacy group Sisters in Islam.

SIS executive director Rozana Isa told The Malaysian Insight the country has seen the brands of Islam change along with the governments, but the rights of women and children have yet to improve.

“The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) was so powerful during the previous administration that it dictated policy but now we have a new government with a new religious concept.

But there is no change in women’s rights issues and this is one area we most wish to see change,” said Rozana.

Asked if this was because of the lack of male Muslim scholars talking about women’s rights in the country, Rozana said: ” Yes, I would say that. There have been some who have talked about it but it is not often and persuasive enough to convince the public that this is a serious matter.”

SIS programme manager Shareen Sheriff said they were hoping that the new government would push for Islamic law reforms.

“SIS has been talking about law reform for so many years, particularly family law, on Muslim women’s rights.

“There are so many issues to unpack. With new development comes new challenges and problems. The last law reform was in 2005 and the amendment was regressive. But although there was an uproar, the amendment went through.

“It has been 13 years. So many things have happened. Islamic family law needs to respond to the reality of men and women today. It would mean a lot in delivering equality to women,” Shareen said. – October 15, 2019.