THE Penang Women’s Conference 2021 will be held as a hybrid event to adapt to the current uncertain situation in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Chong Eng, the state executive councillor for Non-Islamic Religious Affairs and Social Development, said her office and the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) would organise the conference to unearth the talents of women leaders.
“The programme will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss issues and highlight ideas such as community involvement in matters of gender equality as well as women’s empowerment.
“The key is to build women’s leadership. This is in line with Penang 2030 vision Theme C which emphasises the empowerment of the people of Penang to strengthen civic participation,” Chong Eng said in her speech during a virtual press conference today.
She added that out of the 40 elected state representatives, only 15 percent are women while the women representation in Parliament is 14.9%.
According to the International Parliamentary Union, Chong Eng said Malaysia is ranked 140th out of 182 countries in women’s representation in parliament around the world.
She said the population of Malaysia has almost reached a ratio of 50:50 for men and women, but the representation of women still does not reach 30% which is the international standard introduced since 1995.
“We need more platforms and opportunities to bring women leaders to the decision-making level, both in Parliament and state assemblies. This is the ultimate aspiration of this Women’s Conference programme,” she said.
Chong Eng’s office and PWDC staged a mock assembly sitting for 40 all-women participants at the Dewan Sri Pinang last year, the first of its kind in Malaysia, to inspire women to venture into politics and expose them to the roles of elected representatives.
Chong Eng also expressed her hopes that more women would be elected as state representatives either through elections or through Top-Up Women Only Additional Seats (TWOAS) initiative for 30% female representation in the State Legislative Assembly. The TWOAS initiative will be tabled in the State Legislative Assembly session.
Sungai Pinang elected representative Lim Siew Khim, who is the chairman of the Task Force Committee of the Penang Women’s Conference 2021, said women aged 18 and above are welcome to take part in the 2021 programme.
“We call all women in the state to rise to the challenge by joining the conference. Show off your talents in the field of women’s leadership in politics,” she said.
Those who are interested can register through the Penang Women’s Development Corporation Facebook page. The closing date for participation is Aug 13.
Lim said this year’s women’s conference would be conducted in four phases, namely Phase One: Regional Tour (Aug 21-22), Phase Two: Capacity Building Workshop (Sept 11-12), Phase Three: Representative Preparation Workshop (Sept 25) and Phase Four: Conference Day (to be informed).
Among those who took part in the virtual launch of the Penang Women’s Conference 2021 were Batu Kawan MP Kasthuriraani Patto, Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit, PWDC chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng and several PWDC board of directors.
To register of for more information, visit: https://forms.gle/ijeYXQiu3THAYTW78 or PWDC Website: www.pwdc.org.my or PWDC Facebook Page: Penang Women’s Development Corporation – PWDC or call Eric Thoo (017-451 1942), Izwan Ali Imran (017-427 7571), or Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), 47th floor, Komtar (+604 261 2835 / Fax: +604-261 2839).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting