DAP today criticized the insignificant allocation of the budget for women. Despite his budget speech saying that women are “special” and that “women have a pivotal role in national development and in nurturing future generations”, Prime Minister Najib Razak has cut down the budget for a women development organization and childcare leave in the civil service.

Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching said that the allocation for the NAM (Non Aligned Movement) Institute for The Empowerment of Women (NIEW) was slashed from RM 8.4 million to RM 3.2 million. The government arm tasked to promote women empowerment and conduct research studies on women and gender related issues had its budget slashed by 60 percent, prompting the DAP MP to say that the non – professional women have been neglected.

Though she welcomed the government initiation of the Young Professional Women Entrepreneurs Development Programme, Strengthening Women Directors Programme and Women Career Comeback Programme, Teo believes the NIEW’s focus on the non professional women is no less important.

Teo also voiced opposition to the limiting of the number of years for childcare leave in the civil service. Beginning January 1 next year, female civil servants will no longer be able to take a 5 year childcare leave during their term of service. It is now limited to until the child reaches the age of 1.

“Why should there be any age limit? Options should be given to the mothers to apply for childcare leave if they feel that their children need them at any particular period of time,” she said.

On the other hand, she also asked that the leave be extended to fathers as the current policy did not help to change the stereotype that only women are responsible for child care.

The allocation received by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development for 2015, RM 2.26 billion increased by only 2.7 percent compared to 2014. This is in stark contrast, Teo says, with the 15.9 percent increase in the total budget received by the Prime Minister’s Office, which is now at a staggering RM 19.06 billion compared to the RM 16.45 billion last year.

“The below average increment received by the Women Ministry speaks for itself.”

“Not to forget that a huge portion of the allocation received by Ministry of Women, Family and Community is for social welfare,” said Teo. -The Rocket