Marina Mahathir

Women to march against ‘toxic’ and sexist politics on Sept 10

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: The Malay Mail Online 

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — Several of Malaysia’s most prominent women personalities are planning a city march on September 10 demanding an end to what they call a “rising tide” of toxic, violent and sexist politics in the country.

The walk is scheduled to start from Maju Junction to the Sogo shopping centre 350m away on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in the national capital from 5pm.

“We as the women of Malaysia are dismayed at the erosion of democracy in Malaysia, through acts of violence perpetrated at political events, media or online. As the authorities have failed to address the problem, we as the women of Malaysia are taking a stand against this harmful rise of toxic politics.

“What is more worrying is when a woman’s dignity and well-being can be sacrificed for the sake of politics and propaganda,” Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin, representing the women, told a news conference here at the launch of the event called “Women Against Toxic Politics”. Read more →

A wife’s body is her own’

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: FMT News 

PETALING JAYA: Social activist Marina Mahathir has denounced Setiu MP Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh for condemning women who repel sexual advances from their husbands.

“A man does not own a woman’s body when he marries her any more than she owns his,” she said in a comment on a recent speech Zulkifly made in the Dewan Rakyat.

During a debate on domestic violence on Tuesday, Zulkifly said women who denied their husbands sex were subjecting them to psychological and emotional abuse.

Speaking to FMT, Marina said the MP was proving that marital rape was a problem in Malaysia. Read more →

Get involved if you want justice, Ambiga urges Malaysians

Coordinator

Source: The Malaysian Insight

From left) Archbishop Julian Leow, Marina Mahathir, Ambiga Sreenevasan and Zaid Ibrahim at the Day of Solidarity function at the CCM Ecumenical Centre today. The event focuses on pilgrimage towards justice and peace. – Pic from the Malaysian Insight.

From left) Archbishop Julian Leow, Marina Mahathir, Ambiga Sreenevasan and Zaid Ibrahim at the Day of Solidarity function at the CCM Ecumenical Centre today. The event focuses on pilgrimage towards justice and peace. – Pic from the Malaysian Insight.

LAWYER turned human rights advocate Ambiga Sreenevasan urged people to get involved in the political process if they want to see justice prevail.

At the “Day of Solidarity – pilgrimage towards justice and peace” event at the CCM Ecumenical Centre, the former president of the Bar Council said there was a lack of justice and erosion in the rule of law in Malaysia.

“The idea of acting justly is not ingrained in our institutions,” Ambiga told some 300 people at the event today.

Citing the recent case pertaining to Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, she said his attackers faced a fine of RM100 compared with activist Lena Hendry’s fine of RM10,000 for screening the Sri Lankan civil war documentary No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka.

“And to add to it, the attorney-general intends to appeal the fine. It is already RM10,000 too much,” said the National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president. Read more →

Not unusual for Muslim women to lead, says Marina

admin

Source: FMT News

Rights activist says Islam's history is filled with women leaders, but nowadays some people make an issue out of it. Pic taken from FMT News.

Rights activist says Islam’s history is filled with women leaders, but nowadays some people make an issue out of it. Pic taken from FMT News.

PETALING JAYA: Prominent rights activist Marina Mahathir has lamented that some women buy into the idea that they have to accept a lesser role than males.

In a live interview with the National Human Rights Society (Hakam), streamed on Facebook, Marina said many conservative Muslims believed that women could not become leaders, and this was primarily due to her biological functions.

“Some say a woman cannot become a menteri besar (MB) because she cannot accompany the Sultan for religious functions when she is menstruating.”

However, Marina pointed out that the primary role of a menteri besar was to administer the state, thus a woman’s biological functions should not be used as an excuse to deny her appointment as a person of authority.

It is believed Marina was referring to the objections by some against the appointment of PKR President Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as Selangor menteri besar in 2014, during the state’s MB crisis.

Eventually, PKR Deputy President Azmin Ali was appointed menteri besar.

Marina said Islam’s history was filled with female leaders, such as Prophet Muhammad’s first wife Khadija, who was a successful businesswoman during her time, as well as the Prophet’s youngest wife, Aisha, who was regarded as a leader in the community.

“It is not unusual for Muslim women to lead, but nowadays we seem to be making an issue out of it.”

She also spoke on the issue of gender inequality in Malaysia, explaining that it was not an issue limited to the Muslim community. Read more →

Watch: Our “Ask Me” Series FBLive #3 with Marina Mahathir, recorded on 8 September 2016

admin

Jom Tanya Marina Mahathir on FBLive #3.
Illuminating answers to engaging questions.

This was a live broadcast, streamed via Facebook Live from HAKAM’s Facebook Page and recorded on 8 September 2016.

In this FBLive Session #3 broadcast, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir answered your questions on the topics of gender equality, diversity and Malaysia as a nation.

Check out HAKAM FBLive session to come.

HAKAM thanks Mr Chacko Vadaketh for moderating this Facebook Live broadcast. Read more →

Siri “Jom Tanya Saya” bersama Marina Mahathir

HAKAM "Ask Me Anything" series: FBLive #3 with Marina Mahathir

HAKAM “Ask Me” series on the topic of Malaysian Current Issues.

Malaysians are concerned. HAKAM wants to continue and open up space for
Malaysians to have CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER. We can shape the narration on Malaysia.

In this FBLive Session #3, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir will answer questions on current issues, especially on gender equality, diversity, Malaysia as a nation.

Marina Mahathir will answer questions on FB Live:
Thursday, 8 September 2016 at 3pm to 4pm.

To facilitate the session, please POST YOUR QUESTIONS
via comments on our main post or on our FB Event Page or
on twitter @HAKAMalaysia from NOW onwards.
Hashtags to use: #MacamManaMesia or #HowNowMalaysia

Questions will be answered by Marina, in the sequence she chooses. Any questions left unanswered LIVE
will be answered on our FB Event Page as a reply to your question.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
1. Please refrain from asking personal questions
2. Kindly ask questions pertaining to current affairs
3. Please do not use vulgarities
4. Please keep in mind everyone is entitled to their own opinion

While we welcome a lively debate, Admin reserves the right to delete and/or censor any post which breach any of the first 3 rules.

—–

Siri “Jom Tanya Saya” bersama Marina Mahathir di FBLive:
Khamis, 8 September 2016, 3 ptg – 4 ptg.

di mana beliau akan menjawab soalan-soalan anda mengenai hal-hal terkini yang tertentu di Malaysia secara “live” di laman Facebook kami.

Anda dijemput/digalak untuk menujukan soalan-soalan anda secara terlebih dahulu di
laman sesawang utama kami atau laman Facebook HAKAM
atau melalui twitter @HAKAMalaysia dari sekarang.
Sila gunakan Hashtags: #MacamManaMesia atau #HowNowMalaysia

Marina akan menjawab soalan-soalan anda sebagaimana yang beliau pilih,
dan mana-mana soalan yang tidak sempat dijawab dalam sesi “live”
akan dijawab secara bertulis di laman Facebook kami setelah tamatnya acara ini.

PERATURAN ACARA
1. Soalan-soalan peribadi tidak akan dilayan
2. Sila hadkan soalan-soalan kepada hal-hal terkini di Malaysia
3. Sila bersopan-santun ketika menceburi acara ini
4. Sila berperihatin kepada dan hormati hak setiap-tiap orang untuk menyuarakan pendirian masing-masing

Walaupun debat dan perbualan aktif dialu-alukan, Penyelia mempunyai hak untuk
memadamkan ataupun menapis mana-mana soalan-soalan
mahupun komen-komen yang dianggap menyalahi  mana-mana peraturan-peraturan 1-3 di atas.

Marina: What crime has Namewee committed?

admin

Source: FMT News

PETALING JAYA: Offending sensibilities isn’t necessarily a crime, says human rights activist Marina Mahathir.

Commenting on the arrest of controversial rapper Namewee over his newest music video, Marina told FMT she felt the police action was extreme and probably prompted by a need to appease oversensitive Muslims.

“We can’t keep kowtowing to people who spend most of their time being offended. I find it rather offensive that they are offended,” she quipped.

Marina made a similar statement about oversensitive Muslims in a blog posting last January. She cited several “ridiculous things” that she said they would get hysterical over, including the alleged presence of pig DNA in chocolates and crucifix-like designs on the roofs of houses.

She had added that she couldn’t understand why Malaysian Muslims were not ashamed to admit their faith was weak and in need of constant protection. Read more →