In Malaysia, the Women’s manifesto was launched in 1990, prior to general elections, to secure commitments from all political parties to improve the status of women in the key concerns of works, the law, violence against women, development, health, corruption and human rights.

Towards the mid-1990s, several women groups in Malaysia came up with the “11 point Agenda” that is “Women’s Agenda For Change” to the government before the 4th UN World Conference on Women in Beijing on 1995.

In 1997, the Women Affairs Department, under the Ministry of National Unity and Social Development, formulated a follow up Action Plan for Women in Development to translate policy into action. It emphasized on the need :

  1. to ensure Women’s equal access to and full participation in power structures and decision making;
  2. to increase women’s capacity to participate in decision making and leadership;
  3. to enhance the mechanism, ensuring the advancement and development of women at all levels;
  4. to encourage the potential economy growth for women;
  5. to reaffirm women rights and status under law formation and amendment;
  6. to eliminate domestic violence against women

Although the woman development in education and economic were improving but women in politics still at a low representation percentage. 4 questions were discussed and debated :

  1. It is a great challenge for women to achieve the target of 30% in Decision Making. ARE YOU READY?
  2. Women hold up half of the sky, you are half of the population of the country, have you fully utilized your human resources?
  3. Women control more than 50% votes in General Election, did you really exercise our right?
  4. As wife and mother to the family, how do you plan to balance your roles in career and family life?