Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) refers to the comment made by Dr. Mohd Don Abdullah, senior general manager (corporate services) of MAS, with regards to the retirement age for air stewardesses ("MAS: We have reason to hire foreigners", The Star, 30 June 2003, Nation 19). Dr. Mohd Don Abdullah stated that MAS had not looked into the retirement age of 40 years (and another five extra year for those in senior positions) because "most women would be expected to be married and have children by then".

We believe that Dr. Mohd Don Abdullah and the senior management of MAS would have to find a better justification than that to continue to enforce such early retirement onto their female flight attendants. This discrimination is even more pointed when compared to their male counterparts, where male flight attendants are given the option of retiring at the age of 55.

Dr. Mohd Don Abdullahs' statement is in total contradiction to our Government's efforts that encourages Malaysian women to join the workforce and have a retirement age of 50 for women government officials and civil servants. Not only that, the statement is fraught with sexism that places the responsibility of nurturing children only on the shoulders of women. Such understanding harkens to a dinasour era in today's day and age where everyone should recognise that it is the duty of BOTH men and women to care for their children. It is ironic that recognising the multiple burden of women, MAS has not chosen to provide adequate support for their employees but instead chose to wash their hands off the matter by disqualifying their abilities.

Hiding behind the notion of freedom of contract cannot absolve this gender discriminatory attitude. The substantive inequality that MAS' principle of employment provides for should really be seriously looked into by the government to check for violation of Article 8(2) of our Federal Constitution, and of the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) that Malaysia has ratified to in 1995.

In addition, there are millions of women in the workforce who are married and above the age of 40 with children, who have contributed and are continuing to contribute significantly to the Malaysian society. Naming a few are Datuk Rafidah Aziz, Minister for Foreign Trade; Datuk Sharizat Abdul Jalil, Minister for Women and Family Development; and Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Deputy Finance Minister. Does this mean then that according to Dr. Mohd Don Abdullah, they should retire because of their age and marital status?

Is the senior management of MAS in effect saying that women (who might be married by age 40) are not capable of handling a career and a household at the same time should they choose to? If not, what is the real reason for the age limit on retirement for air stewardesses? Is it because that by the age of 40, these air stewardesses (women) are not as attractive as they used to be? If that is the real reason, then this adds another layer of discrimination to the already sexist and age-ist statement. MAS should start to value their employees beyond perceived gender stereotypes and instead take a REAL look at these women who are vibrant, intelligent and attractive, and who posses an added advantage - experience. If not, and if such ancient principles are continued to be enforced, MAS might find itself in the precarious position of losing the business of all successful working, career women. Where would it find itself then?

Mah Xian-Zhen, Intern
Jaclyn Kee, Communications Officer

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