Raising issues about gender bias in a 'male-majority' Parliament is a vexing task, said DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok when commenting on the alleged discrimination against Malaysia Airlines (MAS) stewardesses.

The Seputeh MP, who is planning to highlight the issue in the next Parliament sitting in June, recalled how her male peers had viewed stewardesses from a 'sexual angle' the last time around.

Kok was referring to how a Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentarian had remarked, in the previous siting, that the uniforms of MAS stewardesses were too revealing .

This sparked off a debate, where several lewd and suggestive remarks were aired.

The DAP leader was among those present at Putrajaya today to submit a memorandum to the Transport and Human Resources Ministries urging them to push for the repeal of laws that discriminate against the stewardesses.

They are also seeking a meeting with Human Resources Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn and Transport Minister Chan Kong Chuy on June 16 to discuss this issue.

Spearheading the initiative, is the Joint Action Group Against Violence Against Women (Jag-Vaw). Several non-governmental organisations and opposition parties have lent their support.

Non-discriminatory CA

"We are asking to have a meeting with the ministries soon as we would like to discuss more on this matter.

"We want the new collective agreement to be non-discriminatory and to include all terms that we demanded (in the memorandum)," said Women's Development Collective executive director Maria Chin Abdullah on behalf of JAG-VAW.

The collective agreement, which is reviewed once in three years, will expire on Aug 31.

"We demand that the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Human Resources, the Management of MAS and the Malaysian Airline System Employee Union ensure that the August 2005 collective agreement will see the revision of the terms that still exist in the (current) collective agreement (2002)," read the memorandum.

Among the demands were to eliminate the restriction on the number of stewardess, to entitle them to full maternity benefits, to offer ground jobs for pregnant cabin crew and to allow stewardess to continue to fly until the retirement age of 55, similarly to men.

Transport Ministry operations deputy secretary-general Jamilah Mohd Jan and Human Resources Ministry industrial relations assistant director K Kesavan ( photo ) received the memorandum on behalf of the respective ministers.

Letter of Exchange

On June 2, Chan said the airline and the union signed a Letter of Exchange to deal with discriminatory issues concerning its female cabin crew.

The document, which was signed on May 3, included changes such as female stewardess being allowed to have three children instead of the previous two children rule. The retirement age for female cabin crew at the supervisory level was extended to 55, during which they will serve as ground crew. The retirement age for others is set at 40.

Another change was the increment of gratuity payment from RM800 to RM1,000 per year for those who retire after 40.

Meanwhile, Kok also expressed disappointment with Women, Family and Community Development Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil over this issue.

"As a minister who is fighting for women's rights, she should take a more progressive stand," she added.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) women's wing chief Fuziah Salleh, who was also present, urged the Industrial Court to be firm in endorsing collective agreements.

"Do not endorse collective agreements that fall below the Employment Act," she said.

On the issue of uniforms, PAS central working committee member Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, who was also part of the delegation, said stewardesses should be given the opportunity to choose uniforms according to their religious beliefs.