PAP's Women's Wing to strive for louder voice on women's
issues: Grace Fu
SINGAPORE: Senior Minister of State for National
Development and Education Grace Fu said the Women's Wing of the
People's Action Party (PAP) will strive to give a greater voice for
women on issues concerning them.
Ms Fu, who's also the Vice-Chairman of the Women's
Wing, said this is how she hopes the Wing would evolve after the
General Election.
Ms Fu was speaking to reporters before her thank you
and victory parade Saturday morning.
Ms Fu noted the election has shown there was a greater
fragmentation on the ground, in which various interest groups
wanted their voices to be heard.
These include groups representing women's issues.
She cited issues involving less privileged women, such as divorcees
and single mothers, saying the PAP needs to find better solutions
for them.
"I think in the past we tend to take a more neutral stand. We
always felt that we represent more than just the women MP, because
we have among our constituents also men, also the young, the
elderly and so on. I think we need to have a voice on women's
issues within the party to be louder. That I think would probably
set the tone going forward," said Ms Fu.
During last week's General Election, Ms Fu defeated her opponent,
62-year-old Ms Teo Soh Lung from the Singapore Democratic Party,
garnering 66.9 per cent of valid votes for Yuhua.
However, her counterpart Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, who was Minister in the
Prime Minister's Office and the only woman in Cabinet, lost her
seat in Parliament when her Aljunied GRC team was defeated by the
Workers' Party.
Ms Fu believes this would not be a setback for women in politics,
as she didn't see this as a gender issue.
But she admitted that it woud have a big impact for the party's
Women's Wing which is helmed by Mrs Lim.
Ms Fu said Mrs Lim had done alot, especially in trying to get the
Wing to re-focus on its new mission.
The 47-year-old also responded to suggestions that she could be the
next woman Minister.
"I think there are many outstanding women now, who have been
elected. I think there're options for the PM (prime minister) and
I'm sure he will make good use of the options that he has...Whether
I'm appointed a minister or not, I will continue to serve and
that's from the heart," said Ms Fu.
Ms Fu believes appointing a woman minister should not be a symbolic
gesture and stressed that everyone has to earn her spot.
- CNA/cc