PENANG is aiming to achieve a 30% women representation quota in less than a decade, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
He said the initiative, spearheaded by the state Social Development and Non-Religious Committee chairman Chong Eng and supported by the Penang Women Development Corporation (PWDC), was faring well.
“We are now inching closer towards our aim as I believe we have surpassed 20% of women representation in all sectors.
“Hence, I foresee we might achieve our target in less than a decade or even a few years from now.
“We have implemented a series of programmes in the state to advocate such initiative all this while,” he told reporters before distributing 777 mini-soap flowers to market-goers, especially the women, at Chowrasta Market in George Town in conjunction with International Women’s Day today.
During the walkabout with his team members, Chow, who is also the Padang Kota assemblyman, greeted many of the market-goers and traders who were generally surprised by his visit. Some of them took the opportunity to have photographs taken with him.
Chow said a lot of effort still needs to be done to achieve the aim.
“We have come a long way and we need to continue our relentless effort to reach our target.
“In fact, the United Nations (UN) has stated that gender equality will even take 300 years to achieve.
Apart from lauding the women, Chow also praised the men for their role in society.
Among those present were Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi, Lau Keng Ee, who is Chow’s special affairs officer in Padang Kota and PWDC staff.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix courtesy of Padang Kota Service Centre
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat