Interviewed by Marie Claire about why women don’t have a bigger say in politics

This interview with Marie Claire made me remember how I entered politics in 1990. In a blink of an eye, 20 years have passed. Hope that more capable women will enter politics to play their part to create a better Malaysia.

Marie Claire, June 2010 issue

On the ground: Talking Teresa Kok, DAP Seputeh MP

Start in politics: I joined DAP in 1990, after the general elections. I helped out after DAP failed to capture power in Penang and was very sympathetic towards the party. They had no people, no money but useful for two coalition systems. After helping out the excitement I experienced was much stronger than my full-time job then. I left my job to join DAP and have been with them for 20 years.

Becoming an MP: I never thought of being an MP or state EXCO. I didn’t come into the party with any aims and set my time frame from one election to the other. In 1995, I was asked to contest the Ipoh barat parliamentary seat. It was the first time the party sent a woman candidate to Ipoh Barat and I received a tremendous welcome from the people there. But at that time, I wasn’t prepared to be a politician. I was actually happy I lost in that election because it paved the way for futher studies. In 199, I won the Seputeh seat and the timing was better because I was more mature and ready to accept responsibilities.

Being a female politican: A lot of women look at me and don’t like my job. They admire what I do but if you asked them to join the party, they’d think twice. Do you think there are a lot of Malaysian women who want to participate in politics or have a political life? We have not come to the stage where a lot of people are interested in politics and willing to be candidates. For some women, it is unthinkable. The Malay women are much more active in political life than the Chinese. I see a lot of them are very vocal and active. Yes, a lot of times, we feel the political parties put women in difficult seats. Chew Mei Fun is an example. In 1999, no one thought MCA would win PJ Utara so they put in a woman and everywhere she went she was scrutinised. In the end, she won by over 2000 votes. That was a strategic move on the part of MCA.

Positive action: The media has to play a role. If the media can propagatea more positive image of politicians, this would help propmote the image for women to come into politics where they can do something meaningful for the country. The political situation is that you need more experienced leaders to play a role, at the same time promote more women, and this awareness should be planted in our political education and out candidate selection process. All this should be implanted in the mindsets of our grassroots and top leaders. More women should also gain more experience, learn to be leaders in their own grassroots level and work their way up to the party ladder.

And the quota? It is a direction we should work towards. It is achievable but it won’t be easy. There is the risk of putting in a less qualified woman over a better qualified man. On a study tour oto Sweden in 1995, the cabinet practised gender quality of about 50 percent. After talking to them, I realised that it looked good on the surface, but they sacrificed a lot of quality men too. I prefer we don’t rush to that target, but move towards it.