马华妇女组全国主席 周美芬献辞 Message from Chew Mei Fun

回应大时代

为我们这本记载及回顾2008年10月17日至2009年过去一年的特刊取了《回应大时代》这个书名，主要的原因是因为过去的一年里，我们面对了来自党内外数之不尽的挑战，308后的士气低落，1018党选后延烧至今的纷纷扰扰，让我们在致力于转型的过程中屡遭延宕与挫折。

时代不同了，人民对于政党的要求也不同了！308大选的成绩清楚的告诉了我们，人民要的不是小利小惠，人们厌恶的是滥权、贪污！人民要的是民主、透明、开放与公平！我们输掉了很多的选区不是因为我们没有服务，不是因为我们没有表现，而是因为我们的服务与表现改变不了滥权、贪腐的大局势，我们说服不了人民我们拥有改变大势的能力和我们有纠正错误的诚意!因此,今天，如果我们依旧采取过往那种只求表面太平，管他内里腐烂的态度、如果我们连自己党内的民主都无法捍卫而选择默默承受与委屈求全的话，不但人类争取数百年的民主毁于一旦，同时我们在人民面前就再也抬不起头来了！我们如何说服人民，我们奉行民主，我们透明、开放和公平？

在过去的一年里，在中委会成员和许多基层领袖与姐妹的协助下，我们坚持在巨变中奋勇前进，我们在短短的一年里把我们为三年所规划的“7大目标，5大计划”都展开了，有者卓有成效、有者成果初见，有者蓄势待发、有者还在起步！

卓有成效者，如全国31间“妇女儿童援助辅导室”的成立；
成果初见者，如政治策略局向各政府单位所提呈的各项备忘录与在各媒体所发表的政论与意见；
蓄势待发者，如妇女企业发展中心的成立；
还在起步者，则如精英团队和女青年的广招与培训工作!

回应大时代！我们必须拥有比以往更坚韧的毅力和决心！
回应大时代！我们必须摆脱委曲求全，含蓄内敛的从政态度！
回应大时代！我们必须目标明确，大是大非不妥协！
回应大时代！我们无惧风雨，奋勇前进！

周美芬 与您共勉之

Responding to the Call of Times

This special booklet themed “Responding to the Call of Times” records and reviews events from 17 October 2008 to date. The booklet’s theme was primarily based on endless challenges encountered from both within and outside the party in the past year. Morale has been low following defeat in the March 2008 general election. Further, successive squabbles in the wake of the party election held on 18 October 2008 have caused delays and setbacks to our efforts in the process of transformation.

Indeed times have changed such that people of today have much more higher expectations from political parties. The March 2008 general election results evidently showed us that what the people are tired of just lip service or minor benefits. People are fed up and jaded of abuse of power and corruption. They want democracy, transparency, openness and justice. The major reason we were defeated in many electoral districts was neither because we did not serve our electorate nor because we did not perform well. Rather it was the service provided by us which has failed to change the overall trend of abuse of power and corruption. We failed to convince the people of our ability and sincerity in rectifying errors. Consequently, if we were to continue with past approach of being contented with superficial harmony while turning a blind eye to the rot beneath such harmony; if we are unable to safeguard democracy even within our own party but choose to endure and compromise in silence; not only will democracy which mankind has been fighting for centuries vanish overnight, thus we will never be able to face the people with dignity and pride! Thus, how do we convince the people that we uphold democracy, transparency, openness and justice?

In the past one year, we persisted in marching forward steadfastly together, hand in hand with Wanita MCA Central Committee members, grassroots leaders and members amid various challenges and turbulences. Within a short span of one year, we have successfully implemented the Wanita MCA’s 5 Plans based on the 7 Objectives, which was strategically planned for a term of three years. We have seen remarkable records of achievements in the implementation of some plans while one plan with preliminary results; another in the preparation process ready to be implemented and finally two plans at the initial stages of implementation.

One notable achievement is the setting up of 31 Women and Children Aid Counselling Rooms nationwide. Initiative in line with the objectives and plans which is showing preliminary results is marked by the Political Strategy Bureau with continuous efforts such as presenting memoranda to relevant government agencies and expressing political views and opinions through the media. While the Women Entrepreneur Development Centre (WEDC) falls in the ready to be launched preparatory process, recruitment and training initiatives for the Elite Teams and Beliawanis are under way.

Responding to the call of times, we must be more determined and persevering than ever;
Responding to the call of times, we must discard our reserved attitude and inward looking approach;
Responding to the call of times, we must be clear with our objectives and never compromise when it comes to key issues and matters of principle!
Responding to the call of times, we are undaunted by any challenges and hurdles and we shall resolutely march forward!

Chew Mei Fun

周美芬的真情告白 Words from Chew Mei Fun’s heart

千锤万击寒梅飒爽

在马华面对308的挫败后，接棒领导马华妇女组不是一件容易的事，除了必须重整及激发内部士气，也需赢回选民对马华的信心，这才是难上加难！要改变局势不能单靠领袖，需要马华全体成员的一起努力，才能有果！


2007年12月9日前往林明赈灾时发生的那一场车祸，我在面临生死一线的关头中，体会很多，相信能够存活，是因为过去对社会有所贡献！相信上天让我活下来，是因为要我继续服务，提供更多援助给有需要的人。

虽然在本届大选面对以惊人多数票的惨败结果，但从来不曾将败选怪罪于选民。

国阵执政50多年，许多施政方针引起不满，却没有即时解决，让民怨继续升温，直至大选成绩出炉才发现民愿的重要。

回首前任总会长丹斯里黄家定时代所推动的9大政纲和对打造健康政治文化的坚持，可以发现黄家定其实在问题发生前已看到了问题所在，只可惜当时党的价值改造，打造健康政治文化的步伐，无法赶上时代的巨变，改变不了大选的成绩。

因此，我们今天不但必须继续推动打造健康政治文化的工作，更要以无比的毅力，塑造廉洁政治，杜绝贪污腐败。

Resolute in Surmounting All Odds

“Taking over the helm at Wanita MCA in the wake of the major set back suffered by the Party in the last general election March 2008 is no easy task. In addition to revamping and stimulating internal morale, I have been given the daunting task to regain the electorate’s trust and faith in MCA. It is impossible for any one leader to effect an overall change. Instead, I need the concerted effort and undivided support of all in the extended family of MCA to achieve any results.”

At the time of life and death when I was injured in a road accident on my way to support flood relief in Sungai Lembing on 9 Dec 2007, I believe that I survived because of my past contribution to the society.

I believe that my life was spared so that I can continue serving more people who are in need.

Although I suffered a major defeat with a striking loss of majority of votes in the last election, but I have not placed any blame on the voters.

After being in power for over five decades, BN has failed to address the discontentment of the people in respect to many policies and allowed public indignation to continue. Eventually BN realized the importance of the people’s aspiration when the election results were announced.

Looking back at the former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting’s 9-Point Party Platform and his determination in creating a healthy political culture, it is evident that Tan Sri Ong had in fact foreseen what and where the problem was. Unfortunately, the process of reform on party values and his vision in creating a healthy political culture then was in fact outpaced by the changes of time and thus could not alter the results of the general election.

Hence, today we must not only continue in our efforts to create a healthy political culture but must also be more determined to demonstrate political integrity and end all forms of corruption.

突破格局迈向全方位Breakthrough, Towards a New Direction!

7大目标 5大计划 7 Objectives & 5 Plans

周美芬时代的 7大目标 5大计划

2008年周美芬在竞选马华妇女组全国主席时提出了《突破格局，迈向全方位！》的理念，宣布妇女组未来发展的7大目标，在成功接棒后，进一步以7大目标为本，全面展开了推动妇女组5大计划的工作，一年下来，卓有成效！

The 7 Objectives and 5 Plans in the era of CHEW MEI FUN

In her campaign for the post of Wanita MCA National Chairman in 2008, Chew Mei Fun proposed the concept of “Achieving a breakthrough to march towards a new direction” and announced the 7 objectives for Wanita MCA’s future development. Soon after her election as the Wanita MCA National Chairman, she began to expedite the 5 plans grounded on the 7 objectives. In the past one year, remarkable results in implementingthe 5 Plans were evident.

立足今日展望未来 Consolidating current position and envisioning a future Let’s work together to revitalize Wanita MCA

目标 Objective [1]

扩大关怀面，展现全方位领导才华，当全民领袖 !
以政策带动改变 以制度完善施政

成立妇女组是为了冲破一切主客观限制提供妇女参政平台，但却也可能使我们掉入了自己或他人为妇女画地自限，固步自封的陷阱！

捍卫妇女权益虽然是我们责无旁贷的核心职责，但身为从政者，我们必须拥有身当全民领袖的自我期许！要让大家心悦诚服的认同女性、托付女性，我们不能永远只局限于关心妇女、儿童、家庭等社会福利议题，扩大关怀面，展现全方位领导才华，才能披荆斩棘，开创坦途！

Extend the caring horizon and be leaders for the people

Initiate changes through policy; Effect changes through system for policy implementation

Wanita MCA was established with the core aim of providing a political platform for women to overcome all limitations. However, women may be restricted by some form of constraints either self-imposed or otherwise.

Although we are duty-bound to safeguard the rights of women, however as political leaders, we must be obliged to serve the people. To gain wider acceptance and trust of others, we must not confine our scope caring only for the social welfare of women, children and family. Instead we must extend our caring horizon and be leaders for the people to make full use of our ability and be able to surmount challenges and hurdles ahead.

目标 Objective [2]

政策倡导，专业问政
投入法令与政府政策的研议与倡导

在检讨了308大选的败因后，妇女组要冲破窠臼，当全民领袖，就必须对重大与原则性课题拥有鲜明立场，除了妇女议题，积极参与关系全民与国家发展课题的讨论，在大是大非前以专业分析的论述与理性的行动表态，以理念打动民心，树立马华妇女不亢不卑，无畏无惧的专业问政精神！

Effect Change through strategic analysis of policies and political professionalism
Deliberating on legislation and government policies

Following post mortem on our defeat at the general election in March 2008, we realize that it is imperative for Wanita MCA to break free from convention. And to be leaders for all, we must have a clear-cut stand on important and fundamental issues. Apart from women-related topics, we must actively involve in deliberation of topics concerning the entire population and national development in a critical and professional manner. We must convince the people with our ideas and project Wanita MCA as neither a pompous nor submissive political entity with a professional and outspoken approach in political affairs.