Women Hold Up Half The Sky

Speech by M Kula Segaran , DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at the formation of DAP Ipoh Brata Women Division at DAP Hq on Sunday, August 14, 2011 .

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Women Hold Up Half The Sky

Women make up not less than 50% of Malaysian voters. They form sizable membership in all the major political parties.

Hence, women have always made played a very important role in Malaysian politics.

Chinese leader Mao Tze Tong once said that women hold up half the sky. This is indeed very true.

However, till today women are still underrepresented in the Local Councils, State Assemblies and Parliament.

This is a non healthy situation that should change. There should be more women who are policy makers and , champions of causes at high levels of political forums.

I am proud to say that the past and present DAP women leaders and elected representatives have shown their abilities to lead and their readiness to sacrifice for the Malaysian Malaysia struggle.

DAP has always wanted to encourage more women participation at the forefront of politics.

Many years ago when male members still dominated membership and party positions at branches, an amendment was made to the party’s constitution to provide for the position of women affair secretary at every branch. Naturally, only a female member can hold such a position.

In past general elections, DAP has fielded many female candidates and today in Perak, we have three women elected representatives with servicer record and sense of commitment which DAP members can be proud of.

I certainly hope that in the near future, not only DAP will have more women leaders and elected representatives, but there will be multi racial women leaders and elected representatives.

There has been recent speculation that the next general election may be held after the Hari Raya Aidil Filtri celebration.

There is no doubt that BN will do its utmost to hold on to state and federal power. The next general election will most likely be the dirtiest general election in the nation’s history.

If not for the women members’ hard work and the votes from the women voters, the 308 political tsunami which had caused BN its unprecedented electoral debacle would not have occurred.

I therefore call on all DAP women members and all women voters to unleash the women power and help bring about a bigger political change at the next general election.