Women empowerment in a new MCA

AFTER the devastating knock-back of the 14th General Election (GE14), the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) did not retreat in defeat.

Instead, it remained resolute, defiant in adversity – and the unexpected happened. MCA made a breakthrough of sorts in empowering womenfolk.

At its recent party election, MCA saw the appointment of its first woman secretary-general, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, making it the first local political party with a female holding this high-level post. MCA also made headlines this year when Nicole Wong Siaw Ting was voted in to helm the Youth Wing over her male contender, Ng Kian Nam. Never has a woman been elected national youth chairman in MCA’s 69-year history!

This impetus of change did not end here. The 2018 party election also saw a significant increase in the number of women candidates vying for key party positions. Among them were the Central Committee Member Chan Quin Er, a lawyer who is a former deputy public prosecutor, and Dr Pamela Yong, an orthodontist.

The entry of these women into a once male chauvinist political party spells renaissance and is simply a breath of fresh air and hope! It also bodes well for and is synchronous with the manifesto of the newly minted president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, who espouses a new era embracing innovation in the revival of MCA.

Indeed, this change in the grassroots support for women candidates has certainly moved MCA away from being a male-dominated party. It is also a manifestation of the fact that this 69-year-old party is ready to be helmed by women who would then be the voice for MCA.

With a good representation of women leaders, MCA can be more vocal on gender equality and liberty in an environment that tends to disadvantage and put them down. And the transformation from a businessman to a completely professional team at the helm – consisting of Dr Wee, a civil engineer with a doctorate as president; Dr Mah Hang Soon, a heart specialist as his deputy; and two lawyers and an accountant as vice-presidents – will also augur well for the future of a two-party system.

Like most traditional patriarchal Chinese families, MCA has conventionally been a male-dominated party. While women were given some room to play key roles, they often shied away from the combative nature of politics. And the dominance of one gender in decision-making at the national level did not help matters as, more often than not, it was a huge turn-off.

However, with the changing times and emerging global trends where more and more women are being elected to high office, women in Malaysia are motivated to step out of the shadows and participate in active politics. This is most evident with the increasing number of women, including those with professional backgrounds, who volunteered to take part in the party’s recent election, seeking to be voted in to the party’s top echelon.

Many of these women leaders spoke about wanting to help the party regain support from the people as well as pressing socioeconomic issues. Despite the huge challenge to effect change as an opposition party, they are, however, resolved to seeking the fulfilment of the reforms and promises made by the ruling party in their election manifesto.

This serious no-nonsense manner of its womenfolk might be the right prescription for MCA to re-emerge as a political party that can be counted upon. Their determination and wilfulness would most definitely be a formidable asset.

Such was the case of an engineering consultant whose service contract was terminated due to her refusal to relinquish her party post. This admirable Wanita MCA member was “let go” from her RM70,000 a month job because her employer did not want to risk antagonising the sitting government by “harbouring” a high-ranking MCA official in its payroll.

Yes, GE14 saw the defeat of MCA but this just might be the blessing in disguise that we have all been waiting for – because only the good men and women will choose to remain to defend the party and keep it alive while the less noble leaders would abandon ship.

Some may say that this is perhaps the rock bottom that will become the solid foundation upon which MCA will be rebuilt. So, please, do watch this space.

DATUK SERI TI LIAN KER Chairman Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (INSAP)