Asia Peace Initiatives Program Seminars

Why I chose to become a parliamentarian: From civil action to national politics

Organized by Academy for Gender Parity, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation

While women's rights and empowerment have been promoted around the world, women parliamentarians remain underrepresented particularly in the Asia region. In collaboration with the Academy for Gender Parity and the Malaysian think-tank Institut Wanita Berdaya (IWB/Women's Empowerment Institute), the Sasakawa Peace Foundation has been carrying out various activities to increase the number of women political candidates, such as hosting online courses to nurture political leadership of women in Japan and Southeast Asia.

As part of these activities, SPF will organize an online lecture with Ms. Maria Chin Abdullah, a former activist and current Malaysian parliament member. Despite the fact that most female politicians in Southeast Asia are hereditary legislators or have close relations with large businesses, what motivated an activist like Ms. Chin, who led the Bersih (movement for Malaysian electoral system reform) and women's rights movement for a long time, to become a politician? How can politicians work toward social changes? In this lecture, Ms. Chin will answer to those questions from a unique perspective as a former activist. We look forward to welcoming you all to the event.

*This lecture will be held as part of the program of "Training for Women Political Leader" by the Academy for Gender Parity. Click here for the details of the training.

Contact: Asia Peace Initiatives Department (Akiko Horiba, Nami Yokogi)
E-mail: asiapeace@spf.or.jp

Description

10:30	Opening Remarks Representatives of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and Academy for Gender Parity Speaker Introduction
10:45	Lecture Maria Chin Abdullah Q&A Session
11:45	Closing

Speaker & Commentator

Profile

As a women’s rights activist, Maria has worked for women’s rights for over 30 years and played a key role in advocating for gender equality. Her work is grounded with the realities of the marginalised communities, low-income women and indigenous communities. She was also one of the leaders of Berih (movement for electoral and institutional reform in Malaysia). Just before Bersih 5 rally, she was detained without trial for 11-day solitary confinement.

In May 2018, Maria became a Member of Parliament after winning the Petaling Jaya constituency seat. She is the Deputy Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group, Malaysia for SDGs (APPGM-SDGs) and a member of the Parliamentary Caucus on Reform and Governance.

Hails from Kampar, Perak, obtained BSc Applied Economics from the University of East London and MSc Urban Planning from the University of London.

21 Nov 2020