The question of quality and the notion that women cannot succeed without help are obstacles that must be overcome as well for a long-term solution, they say.
Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto says most of the women decision-makers in the public sector are in middle to lower positions.
“We need more women in top positions like ministers, chief ministers, executive councillors, secretaries-general, and many more that will truly break the glass ceiling,” she said.
Kasthuri was commenting on remarks made by the prime minister’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, yesterday.
Rosmah, speaking at a women’s event in Kuala Lumpur, said Malaysia had exceeded its target of having at least 30% women at decision-making levels in the public sector.
She said the country’s actual achievement was 35.8% in the public sector and 29.9% in the corporate sector.
“I don’t know what she means by that or where she obtained her statistics from.
“Rosmah as well as women ministers need to speak the same language as what women of the world speak, which is to address gender inequality and close the salary gap between men and women,” said Kasthuri.
Syerleena Abdul Rashid, a DAP member of the Penang City Council, said achieving quotas would have very little effect in removing the obstacles confronting women.
“Such quotas may seem like a convenient shortcut to achieve equality, but they aren’t exactly the best way to achieve a long-term solution,” she told FMT.
Syerleena said there were companies which still believed it was fine just to reach certain quotas set for women.
“Because of that, there might be little motivation to continue nurturing gender parity in a natural manner.
“When this happens, you breed a system in which society may unconsciously imprint the notion that women cannot succeed on our own,” added Syerleena.