Day: December 13, 2017

Employers must allow female staff 90 days maternity leave

Intern HAKAM

Source: The Malay Mail Online

Private sector employers could be prosecuted if they dismiss female staff who took 90 days maternity leave, warned the deputy minister of human resources. — AFP file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 — Private sector employers can be investigated and prosecuted if they dismiss female staff who take 90 days maternity leave.

Deputy Minister of Human Resources Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib said such action was in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Constitution that everyone had equal rights including employment.

“Although there is no specific clause stating that private sector employers cannot terminate the service of a female worker for taking 90 days maternity leave, we have to uphold the principle law which is the Federal Constitution.

“Employers cannot terminate the service of female workers when they become pregnant; these women have contributed much to help their companies to thrive.  Read more →

Hate crimes against trans people in Malaysia: A silent radicalisation? — Henry Koh

admin

Source: The Malay Mail Online

BY HENRY KOH

DECEMBER 13 — In the dark and early morning hours of February 23, 2017, 26-year-old Sameera Krishnan was making her way home through the streets of Kuantan in Pahang State. The next day, “Meera,” as she was known, was planning to celebrate her birthday with family and friends.

The relatively peaceful capital of Pahang was jolted by violence that night. Three armed men confronted and attacked Meera, severing four of her fingers, mutilating her scalp, and shooting her in the head at close-range three times. Meera died on the spot.

Her birthday ended up being a funeral. Read more →

Give female refugees work to reduce domestic violence, Tenaganita tells Putrajaya

admin

Source: The Malaysian Insight

Tenaganita director Aegile Fernandez – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, December 13, 2017.

FINANCIALLY independent refugee women are more resilient in the face of domestic violence, says human rights group Tenaganita executive director Glorene A. Das.

“Refugee women who are breadwinners are more respected in their communities ,” Glorene told reporters after an event to commemorate the global 16 days of activism against gender-based violence at Tenaganita’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

She said even community leaders in local refugee communities respected women who provide for their families.

Malaysia only allowed Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to seek legal work in Malaysia on March 1.

There are 150,204 refugees and asylum seekers from 59 countries registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Malaysia as of May 31 this year. Read more →

Moderate Muslims should sue Jakim for defamation, says G25

Intern HAKAM

Source: The Malaysian Insight 

G25 member Noor Farida Ariffin takes Jakim to task for using public funds to sow discord among Muslims and Malaysians of other faiths, in her keynote address at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall’s civil society awards ceremony tonight. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, December 12, 2017.

RISING intolerance and extremism in Malaysia’s Islamic bureaucracy are threatening the peace and harmony of the country, said G25’s Noor Farida Mohd Ariffin.

Citing the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) as an example, Noor Farida said the religious department has shown intolerance of moderate Islamic NGOs such as G25, the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), Ikram, and Sisters in Islam, while political party Amanah has been accused of being “liberal” and a “threat” to Islam and the country’s sovereignty in a booklet produced by Jakim’s research arm.

She said the booklet titled “Martabatkan Islam di Malaysia”, published by the Malaysia Islamic Strategic Research Institute (Iksim), also accused DAP leader Hannah Yeoh of being an evangelist out to make Malaysia a Christian state. Read more →