News:

On March 4, 2015, the Harian Metro Newspaper reported that Malaysian women are at a rate of 34 percent of senior management positions in the country. Malaysia is just left behind a little bit to China, which registered a rate of 36 percent and remains at the forefront of the region's diversity. According to the Asia Hays Salary Guide 2015, the statistics for Malaysia has increased from 29 percent in the previous year. Malaysia is followed by Hong Kong (31 percent, dropped from 33 percent in the past year) and Singapore (27 percent, unchanged from the previous year). The average for Asia is 29 percent of women in senior management positions.

Hays found Japan still lagging in terms of diversity positions, with the position of women in that country filling only 19 percent of senior management positions. According to Hays, diversity remains a critical issue in business. Managing Director of Hays in Asia, Christine Wright said, even though all research found workforce comprising of both genders to have advantage, nonetheless women do not possess an equal number of representatives in leadership and they are not encouraged to achieve their goals in their career.

While calling towards gender equality, she stated more workplaces should practice flexible working hours, uplift women as important role models, change the foundation of organisations to support gender diversity and provide support at the director board level towards issues of diversity. "One of the most practical steps is to practice the base of promotion based on performance because this will help build a meritocracy culture and eliminate the existence of partisanship which is sometimes not realized during the process of decision-making." - BERNAMA.

Comment:

This is an indicator of how successful Malaysia is by being behind China in forming national goals as a developing country. Various parties have been deployed to encourage women to enter the work field and be involved in management. Woman are said to be acknowledged when women are allowed to be at the management team which hence equalizes the rights of women to move forward together with men. This is not something unusual for the capitalist system.

However, ironically, on March 2, 2015, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development had issued a press release concerning the issue of 10% of children involved in drug abuse. The Ministry is aware of the importance that parents and families must be more concerned and have a more cautious attitude in curbing this matter. According to this report, the Board of the National Population and Family Development (LPPKN), an agency under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development must play a role in providing parenting skills to parents in order to recognize and understand as well as cultivate affection to their children to prevent them from dealing with drug addiction.

Clearly, appreciation towards women will not be achieved by making their rights and roles equal to men. The reality mentioned above definitely reflects to us the negative impact of women neglecting their main role. This ‘acknowledgement' only depends on the views towards women which was created by values and a system that exists in a country until it denies the nature (fitrah) of men and women. Do we have the heart to abandon or neglect our generation just to gain a ‘mirage acknowledgement' given by men? True are His Words when Allah (swt) states in the Quran, Surah An-Nur, verse 39:

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْآنُ مَاء حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئًا وَوَجَدَ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ فَوَفَّاهُ حِسَابَهُ وَاللَّهُ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ

"But those who disbelieved - their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allah before Him, and He will pay him in full his due; and Allah is swift in account." [Surah an-Nur: 39]
In Islam, a woman has a noble position similar to as how Allah (swt) nobles men. The noble position of women can be seen from her main responsibilities as mother and household Manager. The Prophet (saw) stated:

«وَالْمَرْأَةُ رَاعِيَةٌ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِ زَوْجِهَا وَوَلَدِهِ، وَهِيَ مَسْئُولَةٌ عَنْهُمْ»

"Women are household managers of her husband and children and is responsible for her accountability." (Narrated by Bukhari-Muslim).

This task should not be viewed as degraded at all or as a low-level domestic task. Undoubtedly, a mother is the only person who can give the best to her children compared to anyone else. Therefore, this is certainly a vital responsibility. In fact, this task will determine the future of the society. The supremacy and well-being of a community is determined by the young generation and family life. Women are acknowledged by being given this strategic and crucial role. Thus, with her important and leading role, that is how Islam honors women.

In addition, women are given nafaqah (maintenance) and her dignity must be preserved by her husband. She is not oppressed even though she is given distinguished roles to men in the family life and society. The children will also gain their rights. No one will neglect them, be it in terms of nurturing, educating or providing nafaqah. This is the uniqueness and superiority of the Islamic system. It is unique because it is the one and only system created by Al-Khaliq who has created men with a set of rules which is undeniably appropriate and suitable for His servants. It is superior because it honors mankind at a time when the current social system that exists today is corrupt and severely destructive.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Sumayyah Ammar
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir