CHUNG KOK CHIONG on “INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION”, 9th March

suppadmin | March 10, 2014

The history of International Women’s Day can be traced back some one hundred years ago. In March 8th 1909, female workers in Chicago went to the streets on a large scale demonstration to fight for liberty and equality. They demanded for the rights to vote, 8 hour work day and increase of pay. In August 1910, the second International Women’s Conference was held in Denmark which saw more than a hundred woman delegates from 17 countries attended the meeting. Clara Zetkin’s proposal of establishing an annual ‘International Woman’s Day’ was adopted during the conference, which later gave birth to the International Women’s Day to be celebrated on 8th March every year.

Even though the social status of the women in many third world countries is still very low and they are being discriminated, but not in Malaysia, where men and women are enjoying equal rights. Many women even excel and perform better than men in certain domains such as economy and politic. This is something we should be utterly proud of.

Allow me to share some of my personal experiences in political field. As we all know, SUPP’s internal conflict started in 2011. It has been on-going for about three years. Not only has this weakened our party, it has put our party in a vulnerable state. Hundreds and thousands of our members, fellow comrades are heartbroken and greatly disappointed to see what has happened to our party. Frankly I do not know what is in the minds of the leaders. If this is purely personal, then I would like to advice them, regardless of which faction they are in, to set aside their differences for the sake of SUPP’s future. Please sit down and discuss among yourselves so that we can reunite under SUPP’s flag once again. If they can work together to end the party’s internal squabble, not only will this go into the history book in a positive manner, all the party members will be grateful to them as well.

Our newly appointed Chief Minister met with the leaders from both factions on Tuesday and Wednesday last week where he had expressed his intention of seeing leaders of both factions to work their differences out. I still remember clearly when SUPP formed the coalition government along with PBB in 1970. The passed leaders had very clear directions and goals during then and that the relationship between all component parties must be based on the ground of mutual respect and equality. Unfortunately, what we are seeing today is completely contrary to what was agreed so many years ago. SUPP has lost that distinctive character of its own along with its courage to fight for people’s interests and became a mere follower. I must criticize some of our leaders without fear and favour for they have chosen a path where leaders with appointed positions are above the party. They take their positions more seriously than the interests of the party, so much so their mind set is no longer with the people. No wonder the party’s political influence is getting weaker each day, because the party has lost its creditability!

We were defeated in the last two state elections. Not only was there no self-reflection, some leaders blamed everything on external factors instead. It is my humblest opinion that in order for our party to regain our strength, we must first establish a principle whereby the interests of the party is above everything else. We must maintain our distinctive and independent characters within the BN coalition and we must defend and stand against all unfair policies or policies that do not benefit the people. The interests of the party and the rights of the people should be our top priority. This is how we can rebuild our image and regain the support and trust of the people. Only then can SUPP regain its strength.

I also noticed that WSK faction proposed that 2011 TDC should be rendered invalid before any negotiation can even take place. No one can travel back the time, but that should be seen as a positive sign or a progress, compared to their “it is already too late” argument previously. Such dramatic change in their attitude is a reflection of the faction’s intention to solve the party’s internal squabble. Personally, no one other than ROS has the authority to decide whether the 2011 TDC should be deemed invalid. I also think that if there is a will, there is a way. Leaders from both factions will be able to get to a common view if they are genuine in negotiating an effective and feasible solution. I stand on a neutral ground and therefore propose to both factions to make a concession so that both factions can take part in the coming party election under a course that is fair and democratic. To allow the delegates to vote and decide who will be our party’s future leaders, this will be the best solution to solve the party’s internal squabble once and for all.

It is my wish to see our party to recruit more youthful members who are dynamic, capable and willing to sacrifice for the party’s sake while at the same time, older members with vast experience are included in the new line up. Such combination of muscle power and brain power will undeniably inject life into our party.