SABAH CHINESE WOMEN ON DECLINE

GOING by official statistics, there are only 142,425 Chinese women in Sabah's 3.2 million population, leaving them grossly outnumbered not only amongst males but also even among other ethnic women.

"We must wake up to the fact that based on the 2010 Population Census, Chinese women in Sabah total 142,425 and this accounts for only 9.2pc of the total female population," said Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) Women & Senior Citizens Bureau head Datuk Agnes Shim.

Shim said the Bureau would seek the co-operation of Chinese women associations throughout Sabah in conducting a survey initiated by FCAS in collaboration with the KK Chinese Women Think Thank (also headed by Shim).

"Once we have collected back all the questionnaires, the Think Tank will analyse the information to determine the needs of Chinese women in Sabah before making relevant proposals for further improvement," she said.

She thanked the State Government for all the support, financial and otherwise, to the Chinese women's movement all these years.

"I also wish to record my gratitude to the corporate sector, NGOs, private individuals and media practitioners for their sponsorship, moral support or coverage for our programmes and activities."

Matrons and nursing sisters from government hospitals in KK and Likas were also honoured at the function.

Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Resource Development & Information Technology, Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai said women are already making their presence felt in many spheres of development in the State.

He said Malaysian women in Sabah are fortunate unlike their counterparts in some countries, who have absolutely no place or say in society.

He noted that in the Sabah context, women have exerted more or less an overwhelming influence in areas such as the education sector.

"If you look at the schools, the majority of teachers are ladies," he said, after witnessing the launch of the Statewide Socio-Economic Survey on Chinese Women in Sabah in conjunction with International Women's Day.

Given that women constitute 50pc of the population in Sabah, Dr Yee, who is Api-Api Assemblyman, said their welfare, aspirations and needs must be taken into account.

Describing the existence of the Think Tank as an "excellent idea", he said the survey is the right move at the right time in a civilised society like Malaysia's.

Asked what the Think Tank should focus on, Dr Yee, who is Api-Api Assemblyman, said it was high time for the group to come up with certain suggestions to address gender issues, among other areas of concern.

"That may take some time to redress, so in the meantime, the Think Tank could look at areas where women can actually have a say or influence in decision-making."

On whether the FCAS Women & Senior Citizens Bureau should forward the findings of the survey and recommendations to the State Government, Dr Yee said they could certainly do so to many places, including the Government.

But, he pointed out, society must also play a part by adopting a positive attitude towards gender equality. "The right attitude towards the equality of men and women is very important."

Dr Yee also presented prizes to winners of the International Women's Day Essay-Writing Competition. Principal of SM Pei Tsin, Kudat, Chong Pik Nyuk, 57, clinched the top place.

Shim, who mooted the idea of a survey for Chinese women in Sabah as a project of FCAS Women & Senior Citizens Bureau, enlisted the assistance of the Think Tank.

"I don't just talk without figures. I want facts and figures about Sabah Chinese women, that's why I want the survey to be carried out.

We (Think Tank) had several brainstorming sessions and everybody chipped in with ideas and suggestions for the survey," she said.

Earlier, President of FCAS, Datuk Sari Nuar received a set of questionnaires for the survey from Shim.

It was witnessed by Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development, Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, Member of Parliament for Batu Sapi, Datin Linda Tsen, veterinarian Datin Dr Lindai Lee (wife of Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk V.K. Liew), Datin Vicky Yee (Legal Advisor to KK Chinese Women Think Tank), Datuk Adeline Leong (Think Tank Co-ordinator) and Think Tank members, Datuk Nancy Ho and Anizah Teo.

Also present were Sabah Publishing House Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Datuk Clement Yeh, former PBS Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Chau Tet On, President of Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (Sabah Branch), Datuk Lau Kok Sing, FCAS Youth Chief, Steven Liaw, and wife of State Education Director, Datin Umayra Chong Abdullah.

For the survey, the questionnaires in English and Mandarin were devised by Jenny Liaw, a senior research fellow in IDS, with input from the KK Chinese Women Think Tank.