Lady with a mission

New York's autumn air can get quite chilly, more so for people from the tropics. But the cold weather did not seem to bother Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. It was OK "as long as it did not rain", she said.

I have been ushered into a private suite in one of the top floors of the Four Seasons Hotel. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Mansor asks me with a smile, referring to the panoramic view of New York's skyline from a window in the suite. Her husband's schedule for the two-day visit to New York is packed. But so is Mansor's. She has her work cut out. "My passion is to help underprivileged children and support the cause of women's empowerment," she said.

Mansor was a high-profile speaker at the Women in Leadership Forum themed "Success in Recess", held in Dubai last October 26 under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. At the forum she said: "Powerful men are seen as natural leaders, whereas powerful women are seen as an anomaly. While such is the perception held by some, it is not supported by history. Since ancient times, outstanding women leaders have affected the course of history.

"In Islam there were many instances where Muslim women assumed leadership roles. Islam elevated the position of women and the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), in his last sermon, reminded: ‘Be kind to them (women) for they are your partners and committed helpers.' Women in early Islam were not mere passive onlookers but took on active roles and were known to be successful in trade and commerce."

She added that women have assumed important leadership roles in the contemporary political sphere, too. Mansor is also helping underprivileged children in Malaysia. She said it was a challenging task. One of the problems faced by Malaysia, she said, was the shortage of teachers for children under 5. "Although teachers are available in Malaysia, they tend to be choosy. Many prefer to teach older children rather than the very young. We need teachers who love children and are committed to teaching them," she said.

Malaysia, Mansor said, was offering courses for teachers to equip them to deal with the idiosyncrasies of teaching young children. So why was she promoting the cause of underprivileged children?

"We need to help these children because they will form our nation's human capital when they grow up. And if they are well-educated or trained, they will also contribute to the country's development."

Mansor is also trying to convince the Malaysian government to help build this reserve of human capital for the future. "I am trying to impress upon our politicians that improving the conditions of children below the age of 5 is very important for the development of society. Empirical research shows that early childhood care and education can considerably improve and develop a child's personality."

According to Mansor, the personalities of children evolve from childhood to adulthood. "We must allow them space to be children. By this, I mean it is important to keep children happy. You cannot impose a regimented and rigid lifestyle on them and deprive them of their innocence expressed in fun, play and the like."

Her mantra is simple: "When children are happy, they will pass on happiness to others. We adults should make it a point to interact with children and spend more time with them."

Our conversation veers back, invariably, to women's issues. "We in Malaysia should consider ourselves lucky because the government recognises the importance of women in every sphere of activity. Women need to express their problems and get involved in the decision-making process. Equal opportunities are key to women's progress in any field. Women want fair and just treatment so that they can prove and maintain their position in society on the basis of meritocracy," Mansor said.

But she also cautioned that women should not take things for granted and expect to improve their lot by merely voicing their grievances. They must show that they are worthy of the confidence vested in them.

Asked what impressions she, as a Mal-aysian woman, had gathered of Western women, Mansor said that being a Muslim woman, she believed in doing things in a "gentle and persuasive manner".

"I think you can achieve a lot more without being hostile. We do not have to be aggressive like men. You can still get what you want by being a woman. I also think television and the media can portray women in proper light — not as a marketing tool but by treating them with dignity and respect. Education is the key to women's empowerment," she said.

Mansor said she had exchanged views about women's empowerment with Yoo Soon Taek, the wife of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, at a private lunch.

A New York international women's organisation is considering giving Mansor a global platform to address women's issues next April when she accompanies her husband to the nuclear security summit.

Some Malaysians said the proverb, "behind every successful man there is a woman", described the prime minister and Mansor. Asked if she agreed, Mansor replied: "Beside — and not behind — every successful man there is a good wife!"

Manik Mehta is a commentator on Asian affairs.