BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG AND DAP SECRETARY-GENERAL LIM GUAN ENG KOMTAR, GEORGE TOWN ON 8.3.2018
IF YOU EMPOWER A MAN, YOU EMPOWER AN INDIVIDUAL. BUT IF YOU EMPOWER A WOMAN, YOU EMPOWER A FAMILY.
Penang recognizes the achievements of women on social economic and governance matters. The Penang State Government set up the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) in November 2011 to transform Penang into a progressive society that promotes gender equality and opportunity. This is shown by the appointment of the first female City Mayor and Council Presidents in Peninsular Malaysia. Amongst the female civil servants appointed by Penang State Government is Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif, the most outstanding female civil servant in the country.
Datuk Maimunah, the former Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor, was headhunted and she is now the executive director of the United Nations’ Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), based in Nairobo, Kenya. This achievement makes her the first woman from Asia to hold the position and the highest ranking Malaysian holding a UN post in Malaysian history.
When girls and women are empowered, entire societies reform. Thus, if you empower a man, you empower an individual but if you empower a woman, you empower a family.
Since 2008, the Penang State Government has set up free mammogram examinations for women age 35 and above at a cost of over RM2 million. The Penang State Government is also providing RM300 yearly to pay for outpatient clinic fees and medicines, capped at RM50 per visit for households earning a monthly income of less than RM5,000. Single individuals with income less than RM2,500 will also get RM150 credit a year, similarly capped at RM50 per visit.
Starting with 2018, all working mothers up to 60 years with children between newborn to 6 years old will be paid a cash incentive of RM300 yearly. The Penang State Government will be paying RM15 million a year in 2018 to accommodate this as there are about 50,000 households in Penang with at least one young child. This would serve to encourage more working mothers.
To be a developed economy, the female labour participation rate must exceed 60%. The current female labour participation rate in Penang is 59% whilst it is 54% in Malaysia. The Pakatan Harapan led Penang State Government is committed to increase the participation rate to above 60%. The Penang State Government also contributes RM100 yearly to all Single Mothers and homemakers who do not work.
DAP is also proud to announce that its Central Executive Committee will include a minimum 30% quota for women, hence, reaffirming Pakatan Harapan’s commitment terms of promoting and encouraging women to hold the reigns of leadership. It is time that gender be no longer an obstacle to the ability of one to realise not only her potential and make her dreams come true but also help towards nation-building. Thank you.
———-Mandarin Version ——
槟州首席部长兼行动党秘书长林冠英于2018年3月8日在乔治市光大发表国际妇女节献词：
赋权予男人，你造就的是一个人，当赋权予女人时，你造就的，却是一整个家庭。
槟州认可女性在社会、经济及治理方面的成就。成立于2011年11月的槟州妇女发展机构， 旨在将槟城转型成一个性别及机会平等的进步社会。这可以从委任全马第一位女市长看得出，拿督麦慕娜是这国家最出众的女性公务员。
前槟岛市政厅市长拿督麦慕娜，如今已晋升为联合国人居署的执行总监，目前身在肯亚的奈若比工作。她是出任这项任务的第一位亚洲女性，也是马来西亚历史上第一位出任联合国高职的女性。
当女孩和女人被赋权时，整个社会就会变得不一样。所以，若赋权予男人，你造就的是一个人，当你赋权予女人时，你造就的，却是一整个家庭。
自2008年起， 槟城州政府投入了超过2百万令吉 ，提供35岁以上的女性进行免费乳房造影扫描。那些收入每月少过5千令吉的家庭，槟州政府每年提供300令吉的津贴，用于支付门诊医疗服务费用，每次费用上限为50令吉。至于每月收入少于2500令吉的未婚人士，每年将获得150令吉，每次看病上限也是50令吉。
从2018年开始，所有的60岁以下，并育有6岁以下的在职母亲，每年将获得300令吉的奖励。槟州政府预计在2018年拨出1500万令吉给予槟城5万户至少拥有一名孩子的家庭，这将会鼓励更多妈妈投入职场。
要晋升成为经济发达体，女性的劳动参与率就要超出60%。目前槟城女性的劳动参与率为59%，而全国的女性劳动参与率则为54%。由希望联盟主导的槟州政府承诺，将会致力提升女性的劳动参与率，并推高至60% 以上。另一方面，槟州政府亦为没有工作的家庭主妇及单亲妈妈每年提供1百令吉。
民主行动党自豪地宣布，其中委会将至少拥有30% 的女性代表，这印证希盟的承诺，即鼓励及推展女性掌权，让她们成为领袖。走到今天，性别已不再是一个人展现潜能、实现梦想以及建设国家的绊脚石。 谢谢。