At the party’s National Conference on Sunday, the DAP passed historical resolutions in their bid to be the party of choice for Malaysian youth and women.
Among the resolutions passed, was the expansion of the elected CEC (Central Executive Committee) members from 20 to 30. DAP Secretary General said that this was to provide more opportunities for youth and women in DAP’s highest decision making committee.
“The DAP prides itself as having the largest porportion of young leaders at the central leadership and among elected representatives. For instance, 21 out of 104 current DAP state assemblypersons were born after 1980,” said Lim during his speech at the convention held at The Place, One City Mall in USJ on Sunday.
Along with that the DAP also made history by imposing a quota for women in the CEC. The newly voted in 30 percent quota would see an increase in women from its current three to a minimum of nine women in the CEC. The three who currently sit in the committee are Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching and Padang Lalang State Assemblywoman Chong Eng.
Lim said that the DAP holds true its commitment to gender equality, where women are equal partners to men in its party struggle. He also reminded the delegates that DAP women were also persecuted in the line of duty aside from DAP men.
“Let us not forget that whilst leaders like Sdr Karpal, Kit Siang, Kok Wai, Seng Giaw and myself have faced prosecution and persecution, and new leaders in Anthony Loke, Tony Pua, Ng Wei Aik, Phee Boon Poh, R.S.N. Rayer who face similar action, we have also women leaders like Teresa Kok and Teo Nie Ching who are charged for sedition or face sedition charges,” he said.
Teo Nie Ching said that this change would announce that the DAP is the party of choice for women in Malaysia who are interested in politics.
Although the move is progressive with respect to other parties in the nation, DAP has set its sights on being comparable internationally, where women representation in politics are almost or equal to men.
DAP vice chairman M Kula Segaran alluded to this when saying that the quota was necessary to increase women participation in Malaysian politics, as the nation already lags behind other countries in that respect.
“It is not a regressive move. Malaysia is placed 120 out 140 countries when it comes to women’s participation in politics. We are way behind.”
The DAP also passed a resolution imposing term limits for State Chairpersons. Lim said that this was to ensure continuous renewal and rejuvenation of the party and train leaders at the state level.
“The DAP was the first party to limit our top leader the Secretary-General’s term more than a decade ago,” he said.
Lim himself is currently serving his last term as the Secretary General of the DAP.
DAP also extended the terms of the State Committees from two years to three years to align with the CEC. Branch Committees terms are also increased from a year to two years.
Lim said that this was to help consolidate the party’s support bases.
The resolutions were passed with delegates raising red cards as a sign of approval for the proposed constitutional amendments. The amendments were subsequently announced by event chairperson Hannah Yeoh. -The Rocket
