Parliament today announced the setting up of a Gender Caucus headed by its pro-tem committee chairperson Dr Rozaidah Talib.

Calling the setting up of the caucus as timely, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said: "It's about time we have a caucus on gender issues. This is a very important issue."

Saying that the progress of women in various fields was noticeable, he quipped that "... we have to make sure women don't encroach on the territory of men, because they are doing better than men are."

The caucus was formally launched by Nazri at luncheon meet which saw the presence of members of parliament from both sides of the House.

Continuing his speech, Nazri said the government would like to see higher participation by women is all areas.

"Sixty-five percent of students at the local universities are made up of women. But women's participation is still not at a level the government is happy with," he said, adding that men should also join the caucus if they were concerned with gender equality.

Rozaidah, described by Nazri as an active parliamentarian, said that she was happy with the setting up of the caucus as gender issues were also a human rights issues.

She said that gender issues went across party lines and that while women had succeeded in many endeavours, legal and social matters prevented them from having equal rights as men.

The new caucus is sure to be welcomed by women MPs who have often been at lofferheads with their male counterparts over gender insensitive remarks.

These sexist remarks have raised temperatures in the House on numerous occasions.

Last March, BN backbencher Badruddin Amuiruldin had to apologise during a sitting when he wondered aloud how long his opposition counterpart Fong Po Kuan's marriage would last, should she decide to get married.

In September 2004, the sexual innuendo of 'big needle, small needle' had also sparked a furore.

Last April, male MPs were at it again over the so-called ' sexy uniforms' of Malaysia Airlines stewardesses.

EO discussed

At the same function later, Nazri received a report by New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on the indefinite detention of people under the country security laws.

The report, entitled 'Convicted before trial: Indefinite detention under Malaysia's Emergency Ordinance' was handed over to Nazri by HRW lawyer and researcher Sahr Muhammad Ally.

The report focuses on the Emergency Ordinance (EO) legislation which allows the government to detain suspects without being charged in court.

Nazri said that Parliament was happy to receive the report and would look into its recommendations. "Launching the report in Parliament will give it much wider readership," he said.

The minister said discussions were being held with the Attorney-General's Chambers and the Home Affairs Ministry on whether to repeal the Emergency Ordinance. He acknowledged that the law was crafted during the Emergency following the 1969 race riots but was still in effect 40 years later.

When asked if those detained under the EO could seek redress, Nazri said that a review of their cases was held every six months.

"During that review, they can be recommended to be charged, discharged or have their detention reviewed," he said.