In The News
This piece was originally published in the New Straits Times on 23 June 2007.
Indigenous, disabled groups out of the loop
AS today's urban women strive for equal treatment in many areas of their lives, women from the minorities are struggling even harder to make their presence matter.
Most indigenous women live in the shadows of their male counterparts, said Claudia Lasimbang from Partners of Community Organisations Trust (PACOS).
"As a community with little exposure and involvement in national level decision-making, indigenous groups are sidelined and feel left out."
"Women in these groups suffer an even greater level of inequality."
As they are unable to contribute and have little participation in decision-making both at home and in society, indigenous women face disempowerment and have low self-esteem.
Claudia, a Kadazan, was one of the 35 orang asal from five indigenous groups who attended the Fiesta Feminista.
She heads community training sessions in PACOS, a community-based voluntary organisation which helps raise the quality of life of indigenous communities.
There are more than 80 known indigenous groups and sub-groups in Malaysia, making up 11 per cent of the country's population of 26.9 million.
In her plenary speech, Claudia spoke on the challenges faced by the rural indigenous, including the impact of privatisation of native land for commercial plantation.
Like every other citizen, indigenous women hope for good education for their children and affordable healthcare and services.
They also yearn for self-reliance by engaging in handicraft making and cultivating agro-forest products using traditional knowledge system.
"More importantly, they want to be heard," said Claudia.
Similarly, due to their condition and gender, disabled women do not share the same privileges as disabled men or ordinary women.
Some parents cast aside any notion for their disabled daughter to be educated, favouring her to master ways to take good care of the family instead so that it's easier for her to be married off.
"Most of the time, we do not have the right to choose our spouses. Our families tend to arrange for our marriage and disregard our choices," Daphne Eng Foong Mei 'said', using sign language.
Eng was one of the three people with disabilities (PWDs) who gave a presentation during a discussion on the challenges they face in life. Children of overprotective parents also lack confidence. and self-esteem, making them more passive and introverted in society, she said.
