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!
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。
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。
Resolute in Surmounting All Odds
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。
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.
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.
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.
汇集各方人才 成立策略团队
马华妇女党员四十余万,是党的重要臂膀!发挥人多势众的优势和发掘党内精英的工作同等重要,因此组织发展与人才培育须做到各级组织纵横融汇,经纬贯联!
成立支会与广招党员的工作仍由支、区会继续承担推动;而党内人才汇编与培训、党外精英招揽、设立人才智库等工作则应由中央拟定策略,在各级组织的协助下全面推展,以达致以“量”动人,以“质”服人的目标!
Serve as a synergetic and integrated organizational network
Creating strategic team by pooling professionals
With a membership of over 400,000, Wanita MCA is an important wing of the party. Equally important is to capitalise on the numerical strength of membership and nurture talented members within the party. Hence, the organizational development and grooming of qualified members must include all organizational levels to form a synergetic and integrated network.
The respective divisions in the party will continue to be responsible for the setting up of branches and recruitment of new members. On the other hand, employment and training of talented members, recruitment of professionals, and the setting up of a talent pool shall be decided upon and strategized by the central leadership. These shall be carried out with the co-operation of the entire party hierarchy so that we can prevail both in terms of numbers and quality.
The political life of MCA comes from the general public and is closely related to the Chinese community. For this reason, Wanita MCA has for the first time formed the Women NGO Community Liaison Bureau to implement community and people-oriented activities to enable its members to fully integrate with their respective community and mobilise the strength of women to become a political force to be reckoned with.
计划重点:成立政治策略局,在国家议题与政府政策上主动出击。
政治策略局针对课题集合各领域人才会商研讨,通过专业及政治策略分析,主动鉴定在国家立法与施政方面需要倡导与寻求变革的议题,展开实质介入,并随时对时下争议性课题作出回应与表达,以做到专业问政所需要的“精,准,快!”
“马华妇女组是一个政治团体,必须关注国家政经文教各领域发展,积极参与议政工作,因此,在中委会中成立政治策略局,专研及探讨时事、政府施政与法案和涉及妇女与人民权益政经文教等课题,适时表达马华妇女组的立场与主张。”
在全国妇女组主席拿汀巴杜卡周美芬上任领导妇女组的短短一年内,妇女组已成功在议政方面建立了鲜明的形象,通过专业化的课题资料收集与研讨,无论在教育、宗教、妇女及外籍配偶等课题上,都表达了实际与理论基础坚实的立场与看法。不但带领国内非政府组织向有关部门首长提呈备忘录,也设立平台和非政府组织一起进行课题研讨!
“政治策略局所展开的政策倡导工作将不只涉及中央妇女组的层级,也将动员州与区级妇女组在州议会或县市议会提呈建议与备忘录,一方面履行作为政党的角色,另一方面也达到整体政治培训与动员的效果。” - 周美芬
The Political Strategy Bureau brings together professionals in the respective fields to deliberate on various issues and conducts professional and strategic political analysis. Such initiatives aim to explore issues requiring reform and identify strategies in law-making and policy implementation processes, enabling Wanita MCA to substantially participate in such processes. In addition, it will promptly respond to any controversial issues and express its views to ensure “perfection, precision and promptness" as required by professionalism in politics.
“As a political organisation, Wanita MCA must keep abreast with the developments in the nation’s political, economic, cultural, education and other fields and play an active and leading role in political deliberation. In this respect, Wanita MCA has formed the Political Strategy Bureau to specifically study and explore topical issues, government policy implementation and bills relating to the rights of women and the people, politics, economy, culture, education and other areas and make known the stance and views of Wanita MCA on such issues."
In the short span of one year under the leadership of YB Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun as the new National Chairman, Wanita MCA has successfully projected a strong image in political deliberation by professionally collecting and studying input on various topics relating to education, religion, women and foreign spouses, and so on, and firmly making known its stance and views with solid practical and theoretical basis. It has not only played a leading role in rallying NGOs to submit memoranda to relevant authorities but has also formed a platform to jointly study topical issues with NGOs!
“The initiatives taken by the Political Strategy Bureau in political deliberation and policy making process are not confined to Wanita MCA’s central leadership. It will mobilize Wanita MCA at all state and divisional levels to present their recommendations and memorandum in the respective State Assemblies or District or Municipal Councils to discharge their role as a political party as well as to achieve goal of overall political training and mobilization.” – Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun
马华中央妇女组政治策略局的重大政绩:
配合"政策倡导,专业论政"的目标,中央妇女组成立政治策略局,通过专业及政治策略分析与研究,主动倡导或实质介入,使到影响国家和女性的政策得以改善和落实。
在短短的一年里,政治策略局已积极的针对许多国家议题表达妇女组的立场,并在处理多项议题上取得成就。
Significant Achievements by The Political Strategy Bureau of Wanita MCA:
In line with the overall objective of the Policy-Guided and Professional Political Participation, the National Wanita MCA formed the Political Strategy Bureau following election of the new committee last year. This Bureau is a Wanita mechanism for substantive intervention based on professional and strategic political analysis to effect changes in the implementation of policies which affect women and the general public. It advocates and lobbies for protection and promotion of rights and interests of all, particularly women through conducting research, deliberating and effective strategizing on various issues concerning women’s rights.
In the brief period of one year, the Political Strategy Bureau has actively and clearly made known Wanita MCA’s stance on a variety of national issues and recorded achievement in a number of issues.
1. 向国会提呈备忘录要求修改国会议事条规,以禁止议员在国会使用带有性别歧视的语言,并在随后进一步将相关备忘录提呈州、县市议会,以贯彻两性平等及消除性别歧视
Caption:
马华妇女组中委及华团妇女组领袖于15/1/2009,在国会提呈《反国会性别歧视备忘录》予首相暑部长拿督斯里纳兹里,并于23/2/2009呈交备忘录予下议院议长丹斯里班迪卡阿敏和上议院主席丹斯里阿都哈密
Wanita MCA Central Committee members and women leaders of 12 Chinese Associations submitting the “Memorandum on Promoting Respect for Women to Uphold Gender Equality and non-discrimination in Parliament” to YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Bin Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department on 15 Jan 2009 (top left), and to YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Utama Pandikar Amin Bin Haji Mulia, Speaker of the Lower House (bottom right) and YB Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh, President of the Upper House (bottom left) on 23 Feb 2009
随后,国会下议院议长所主持的议会常规小组会议已通过把在国会内禁止使用带有性别歧视的语言内容纳入议会常规,并已把有关的修正建议提呈总检察长署进行审核。
在获得上一任国会上议院主席丹斯里阿都哈密同意修改上议院议会常规以维护国会形象与两性议员的尊严下,我们相信,随着我党总秘书拿督王弗明接任为上议院主席后,这项争取相信也会在短期内在上议院获得落实。
2. 捍卫及提升大马女导游的权益
拿汀巴杜卡周美芬和马来西亚女导游协会主席吕秀敏欢欣展示由旅游部发出承认该协会法定地位的公函
Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and Erina Loo, Chairman of MWTGA showing the letter from the Ministry of Tourism recognising MWTGA as an autonomous organisation independent from affiliation with the MTGC
于2008年12月26日成功为马来西亚女导游协会申请成为旅游部承认的旅游协会之一,从此可直接为会员更新执照而再也无需求助于拒绝接纳该会成为属下会员的马来西亚导游协会。
随后,获得旅游部长拿督斯里黄燕燕医生的支持,以撤销旅行社准证作为警告,严禁女导游被逼与男同事同房的事情再度发生。
目前,在执行上仍然面对旅行社依旧漠视部长指令及导游担心失去工作而不敢向旅游步执法组投报的情形,妇女组将继续跟进,以确保问题获得彻底解决。
3. 反对父母在皈依回教时单方面为孩子改换宗教
马华妇女组在监督政府进行《1976年婚姻离婚改革法令》的修正上扮演重要角色。主动和党内领袖及非政府组织针对修正案进行讨论,以确保非回教徒家庭、配偶、孩子与家庭成员的权利不会因为某一方半途皈依回教而受到影响。
4. 提升及捍卫大马外籍配偶与孩子的权益
拿汀巴杜卡周美芬颁发纪念品予出席交流的移民厅助理总监再迪(左三) Chew Mei Fun presenting a token of appreciation to En. Zaidi bin Yahya, Chief Assistant Director of Visa, Pass and Permit Division of Immigration Department. Looking on from left: Dato’ Michael Chong, Dato’ Leong Tang Chong, YB Senator Heng Seai Kie, Ms Fui K. Soong
2009年6月5日在马华政治策略研究中心的协助下召集各相关政府及非政府组织,包括移民厅、马华公共服务投诉局、外籍配偶援助团、民政党妇女组、全国妇女理事会、妇女援助机构、律师公会家庭法律小组委员会、隆雪华堂妇女组、马来西亚宝岛妇女协会,主办了《外籍配偶权利》研讨会,并在多次的会商与研讨后,综合各方意见草拟了备忘录!
备忘录重点提出相关法律漏洞,外籍夫妻所应享有的居住权、就业权及其孩子的权力等。马华妇女组在近期内将拜会内政部长,提呈备忘录。
1. Submission of "Memorandum on Promoting respect for women and upholding gender equality and non-discrimination in the Parliament and State Assemblies"
Prohibition on the use of sexist and gender discriminatory language in Parliament will be integrated into the existing Standing Orders upon the approval by the Dewan Rakyat following a Dewan Rakyat Proceedings Regulations Subcommittee meeting chaired by the Speaker;
The latest development is that the proposed amendments have been submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers for review.
Commitment from the past President of the Dewan Negara YB Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Abdul Hamid Pawanteh to amend the Standing Orders to safeguard the image of the Parliament and the dignity of members of Parliament of both genders. We believe this amendment will soon materialize following the appointment of MCA Secretary General YB Senator Dato’ Wong Foon Meng as the new President of the Dewan Negara.
2. Protecting and Promoting rights of women tourist guides in Malaysia
The recognition of the Malaysian Women Tourist Guides Association as an autonomous body by the Ministry of Tourism following a letter dated 26 December 2008 issued by the Secretary-General, allowing its members to renew their licenses without being affiliated to the Malaysian Tourist Guide Council which had rejected their application as an affiliate member;
The stern policy announced by the Tourism Minister YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen that licenses of travel agencies will be revoked if they continue to require women tourist guide/tour leaders to share the same room with their male colleagues on over-night assignments;
However, travel agencies have not fully adhered to and implemented the policy as announced by the Minister of Tourism as tourist guides are reluctant to report to any incident of non-compliance to the enforcement authorities for fear of losing their job. In this respect, Wanita MCA will continue following up the issue to ensure that the matter is resolved.
3. Advocacy opposing unilateral conversion of children to Islam when one parent converts
Wanita MCA played an instrumental role in facilitating briefing and discussion between key party leaders and non-government organizations were on the proposed amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 deliberating to retain good proposed sections and recommend amendments to proposed sections which are not in favour of the non-converting spouse and their children. This initiative was to ensure that proposed amendments will not affect the rights of the non-converting spouse, children and family members when a spouse converts to Islam.
4. Promoting and Protecting Rights of Non-citizen spouses of Malaysian and their children
A memorandum outlining key challenges; gaps in laws, policies and administrative procedures and recommendation on the right to stay, right to work and rights of children to a non-citizen parent will be presented to the Minister of Home Affairs. The memorandum is an outcome from the Forum/ Workshop on non-citizen spouses of Malaysian and their children which was held on 5 June 2009 and participated by the Foreign Spouse Support Group (FSSG), Wanita Section of Parti Gerakan and non-governmental organisations such as National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO), Women’s Aid Organisation, Family Law Sub-committee of the Bar Council, The Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Formosa Women Organisation of Malaysia. Subsequent to the forum/workshop, the drafting committee met several times to fine tune the final draft Memorandum prior to circulating to the participants for comments and feedback.
The memorandum highlights the legal loopholes, the rights of residence, employments of non-citizen spouses, and the rights of their children. Wanita MCA will meet the Minister of Home Affairs soon to present the memorandum.