The DAP conference which was held on Dec 14 courageously passed a resolution to introduce a 30 percent quota for women in the party’s central executive committee (CEC) under its new amended constitution.
Undoubtedly, this is a quota system. The quota system is an affirmative action and is prevalent in many countries all over the world. The purpose is often to help the minority communities, including people with disabilities (PWDs), the indigenous, African Americans, women etc, to develop and provide them with equal opportunities to compete and thrive.
“What! Women are on par with PWDs?”, “They are considered as a minority? Come on!” are just some of the surprised and shocked reactions from the general public.
In fact, even some successful and confident professional women are offended, they opine that women are on par with men, hence do not need to be assisted. Some are of the opinion that meritocracy should be the way, and that no quota system is needed if women are capable. Some think that it is unfair to the men and undemocratic, and some even feel that it’s a discrimination against the abilities of women.
Wow, a UN policy to eliminate discrimination against women has suddenly become “discriminatory in nature” in the eyes of some critics. For myself personally, the journey in fighting for gender equality has been bumpy, but I certainly did not expect these nonsense, especially in circumstances where the truth can be twisted and falsified.
The UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948,it is an organisation that espouses human rights, therefore it is highly unlikely that it would promote ‘undemocratic’ principles and views.
By the same token, DAP leaders such as Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng have been detained in prison for safeguarding the principle of democracy, not to mention Tan Kok Wai, Chow Kon Yeow and Dr Tan Seng Giaw, Ngeh Koo Ham, Teng Chang Khim, Liew Chin Tong, Tony Pua - not a single DAP leader would ‘allow’ an ‘undemocratic’ move to be approved within the party.
All of them have been elected into the CEC because they are far-sighted and certainly understand that with the participation of more women in the party, the party will thrive and grow stronger.
The 30 percent quota system is not just the beginning in promoting fair competition, it will also eliminate the ‘gender monopoly’ in politics. In the ‘90s, the Australian Labour Party implemented a 30 percent quota system for women and when the objective was achieved, the quota was then amended to 40:40:20, meaning 40 percent men, 40 percent women and 20 percent open competition.
This is to ensure that each gender has a representative of 40 percent.
A fair and equal society ensures that every citizen from every field has a fair chance to compete as there has been a yawning gap between men and women in the sphere of politics and the economy. The very nature of these two fields are generally not gender-friendly.
On top of that, the traditional thinking and culture of which women must be a homemaker has hampered many women from reaching their potential, for example working-class women who are married face multiple challenges and obstacles when it comes to developing their careers. These ‘unfair disadvantages’ have been around for so many decades, which is why the UN in 1985 urged the world to ‘eliminate any forms of discrimination against women’.
The 30 percent quota system that we are talking about is an affirmative action meant to eliminate discrimination and promote gender equality. I call upon the cooperation of everyone to support this instead of judging it. If you cannot support us, at least do no harm.
CHONG ENG is DAP Wanita chief and Padang Lalang assemblyperson.
