Press Statement by Teresa Kok, Member of Parliament for Seputeh and Selangor State Senior EXCO on 3 June 2010 at Shah Alam
6 new deputy ministers, 3 new senators and not one of them female! Najib’s cabinet reshuffle shows utter contempt for women representation in government
For all the propaganda spouted by BN-owned media, it is plain as daylight that Najib Razak reshuffled his cabinet yesterday for the sole purpose of appeasing MCA and MIC’s internal leadership problems, did nothing at all for the rakyat’s interest, and nothing at all to increase women’s representation in government.
The last point truly rankles because Malaysia ranks a deplorable 100 out of 134 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index 2009. To add salt to the wound, Malaysia ranks even worse at female political empowerment at number 113 out of 134 countries, behind the likes of Lesotho, Botswana and Mongolia.
These rankings cannot be the 1Malaysia that Najib vaguely claims to be all-inclusive and non-discriminatory when he has chosen not to appoint a single new female into leadership positions in government. Not even one to fill the vacancy left by Chew Mei Fun when she resigned.
Instead, Najib has chosen to appoint even more men into government leadership and further raised the male-female ratio disparity by creating two new deputy minister posts which he again filled with men.
The silence and apathy by BN component party leaders towards this gender divide is glaring. Ng Yen Yen, who was chief of Wanita MCA until 2008, and formerly Women, Family and Community Development Minister as well, has yet to raise a peep in protest of Najib’s disregard and zero commitment to increasing the number of women in positions of leadership in government.
Another issue on the cabinet reshuffle is how the appointment of young politician Chua Tee Yong, son of Chua Soi Lek, as a deputy minister reeks of nepotism. Chua Tee Yong is but a first-term MP who was elected not on his own steam but by taking over Labis constituency formerly held by his father for four terms. Thus, Chua Tee Yong’s appointment appears to be compensation for his father’s conspicuous absence in the Cabinet and Parliament.
Furthermore, I question the ever-changing post of Minister for Housing and Local Government, typically held by MCA, which has been switched several times since 2008. This instability has created a lack of follow-up on the issues and laws related to housing industry which adversely affects the people. I can only hope that Chua Chee Heung will not further disappoint the people now that he is taking over the ministry.
With such dubious and unrepresentative appointments in this cabinet reshuffle, Najib has further betrayed the wishes of the rakyat as evident in the 2008 election results and further denied women, who make up 50% of the electorate, their due right to proportional representation in government. This lack of female representation in government, as perpetuated by Najib, is an inexcusable step backward for Malaysia and gives good reason to believe his 1Malaysia is mere political rhetoric.
Why women if there are capable men to handle the job?? Women ain’t leader in a family and so it is catastrophe to have them in cabinet or any leadership post. So to all women, stay home, cook your best meal, raise your kids well and last but not least always “prepare” your body for your husband. The world will be much better place without you straying on the street!
You are wrong Theresa. All the new ones appointed, are they all not whimps? Losers who get in through the back door? not real men? That being so, are they not all women? When will we get some real men there eh? That would be my complain!!
Dear Mdm Teresa!
With the existing and unwarranted appointments by our beloved PM, what more can you expect from him, when in the first place, he was not even “duly” elected by the Rakyat to lead the country? Can you answer me this question before you ask about the representation of women in Parliment?! A PM by and if I may use the word “default”! What a joke, not only to Malaysians but to the entire democratically elected governments on this planet?! The saddest part of this whole issue is that some learn it sooner while the others learn the hard way….come the next GE UMNO/BN will be history!!! Believe it or not!!!!!! As a token for his “services” we should pack a packet of Nasi Lemak and send Najib and his BN goons into the sunset of oblivion!!!!!!!!!!!!
Das
The removal of OTK (Ong Tee Keat) and replaced with that tainted Chor Chee Heung (housing and local government minister) will make things worse for BN. If they were to retain OTK then it shows the government is serious about getting to the bottom of the PKFZ (Port Klang Free Zone) scandal.
Not only did they remove OTK, they replace him with Chor, who is one of the several politicians alleged to be involved in the scandal. Tiong King Sing can now claim he is the real master of all, including Najib, who have to kowtow to the tycoon-cum-Bintulu MP.
Seem like being honest in BN/UMNO not only does not pay, but worst off all get wallop left, right, centre and top like our poor OTK. Actually OTK can still make himself relevant to the rakyat by leaving MCA/BN and join PKR. At the same time, exposed all those greedy and corrupted politicians in BN/UMNO. And not to forget to ensure that PKFZ fiasco does not die a natural death like most scandals. Get to the bottom of it. Join PKR now. In PKR, you can AT least walk with your head high. DO IT NOW!!!
First, I beg to differ from your constructive views Sister Teresa. The posts created in this cabinet reshuffle is only for short term something like a Tests to the new comers.Ａｓ ｔｈｅ ｄｕｒａｔｉｏｎ is for short hall, I have nothing to comment regarding to your take regarding to ‘no women’ for this reshuffle but what I objected most is this long over due mistakes of the present and past Prime Ministers, Example: How can we always change profiles like Transport and Housing or any other Ministries on the wimps and fancies of either the PM or MCA and even other component Barisan’s team? What I detest most is the Transport Ministry which Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat held.The poor fellow even to the extend of getting the Japanese Government to donate as gift to Malaysia 38 used six-car train (a total of 228 cars) which has another 20 years’ lifespan sets. His effort is to bring significant improvements particularly in Public Transport. By this gesture, I take note of his sincerity in trying his utmost to reform his ministry for the convience of commuters. Instead of giving praise for his undying efforts. Our Prime Minister dropped him out or I would rather use my term as “Discard” him without due notice. Is this the way UMNO or MCA to be precise to ‘REWARD’ a colleague? Furthermore, he was an ex-MCA President not a Kucing curupt.
The way I see it does not auger well for Malaysia because before a Minister is about to learn the ropes of his Ministry, he is either dropped or transfered. So you tell me, how Malaysia can progress? No wonder people used to coin the sentence like ‘1st word infrastructure but 3rd world mentality! Please take a look and learn from our closest neighbour. Do they always change Ministries like us?
As regards to the appointment of MR. Chua Tee Yong as Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister. I should think that he fits his posts as he is more qualified than Madam Tan Ah Eng though the latter is more senior but less qualified.(I beg to be excused for using this term)
Hello,It does not matter they are Male/Female, what is important is are them have these ability to perform as what our PM said.
Looks those who has many years of experiences as deputy minister with less Contribution, we understand that we really don’t have a better Candidate……
Feminism. Humankind are born free, everywhere we are in chain. Equality utopia.
In the aftermath of PR Selangor exco lined up, my wife start revolts for everything in the family for possession. Dilemma. A change in society towards feminism for good? Between patrimonial and matrimonial society, should we allowed conflict exist or live in harmonious equilibrium. We are Malaysian within Asian society value or western value.
If female lead society or family, we are in for perfect life? What about family chaotic in a royal family as reported recently when the queen overly in command.
Not meant to hurt anybody, just in dilemma. Feminism for good?
If I am male, should not enter YB blog for feminism to grow stronger? If I continue support YB means matrimonial society adopted? Just in dilemma.
no matter which man, woman or monkey appointed to take gaji from our tax payers will never fulfil their full potential in making Malaysia a better place
BN administration is too encumbered by political interest and burden – take a look at Zaid Ibrahim’s resignation.
Then take a look at NEM – the 200 page thingy talk about political courage and determination to push entrenched interest aside to give hope to reform and now NEM received obstacles worse than wawasan 2020 and Islam Hadhari as I never seen the most powerful PM in the world faced so much resistance and backed away so meekly
since when the most powerful PM shy away from an independent MP? the current legislation allows this PM to order his home minister to detain the independent’s rather provocative challenge and yet he seems to back away from the stance he so emphasized in his speech when he launched that new model
I rather not want any intelligent, capable malaysian woman to be ravaged by such mindless, classless objection from the existing interest group back up a talk big PM
the out-going Indonesian finance minister who is a female and led a creditable effort to fight corruption in the end decided to resign and take up a prestigious finance position with UN
so Terese, dun worry, when the federal administration is in better hands, then let our capable women take over
no point for a SPM top scorer to work in a whorehouse