GEORGETOWN, March 24 – Welcome to the International Women’s Day Forum 2015 and the book launch of “Becoming Hannah, A Personal Journey” by YB Hannah Yeoh who is also the Speaker of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly. YB Hannah has been a symbol of what a woman can achieve when everyone treats one another in an equal environment. That has always been the stand of the DAP as well as the Pakatan Rakyat Penang State Government. Of course, this is not the pinnacle of what a woman can achieve; a woman can also be a Chief Minister, Menteri Besar or even the Prime Minister. There should never be a barrier to what a woman can achieve.
The DAP is proud of our women from Hannah Yeoh to our DAP Wanita Chief Chong Eng. And this year the party decided to amend its constitution to fix a30Yo quota into its elected Central Executive Committee. This is a first for Malaysia and is essential as we want to make sure that women have a place in leadership in the main decision making body of the parly. nSeated here as well, we have YB Hannah Yeoh, YB Lim Siew Khim, YB Yap Soo Huey, YB Yeo Bee Yin, YB Kasthuri Patto, Ms Syerleena Rashid and Ms Connie Tan who are undoubtedly the young women of the next generation of leaders for the party.
And these women are also part of the administration of both Selangor and Penang. I am very proud of the women in our pafiy as well as their participation in the Penang State Government. The Penang State Government is the first in Peninsular Malaysia to appoint the female Municipal Council President and female District Offrcers. We shall also be making history to have the first female Lord Mayor of a city council in Malaysia. To show how much we love our women, the Penang State Government has set up free mammogram examinations for women age 35 and above as well as contributing RM 100 yearly to all Single Mothers and homemakers who do not work . We encourage women participation in the workforce by encouraging the setting up of child care centres.
For this book, YB Hannah Yeoh is a mother as well as the first female speaker of the Selangor State Assembly. Awoman should never have to choose between her family and her career. This is a book aboutYB Hannah’s journey to the DAP and to the Selangor State Government. Her life’s achievements were all within her reach thanks to the support of her family, friends and her strong beliefs in God. I hope all of you thoroughly enjoy her book as well as well as the forum today. Today I hope that we can make the difference for an equal society for both men and women. Only we can make that happen so let us together “Make It Happen!”
