By Lian Cheng
SIBU, April 23: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Women calls for respect from its male counterpart and not to be taken as “a pinch of salt” as that only reflects egoism, chauvinism and sarcasm.
Its women chief Dato Sri Doris Sophia Brodie said the male and female components of PRS should be helping each other and not to mock when the fairer sex expresses their feelings and desires.
“We have the right to speak up. Please don’t take us with a ‘pinch of salt’. By doing so, it will only reflects egoism, chauvinism and to a certain extend, sarcasm. Treat us as close comrades, where we share your hardship and your laughter,” she said at the opening of PRS’ 5th Women and Youth Triennial Delegates Conference (TDC) by its deputy president Datuk Majang Renggi at a local hotel here today.
As the Women chief, she said she was responsible to voice out for the Women Wing. It was also her main duty to highlight issues and matters related to women in the party.
“I will remain vocal. However, it is unfortunate that some of us say that these issues are deliberately hyped or even dramatised for my own benefit.
“How can that be? (If) I don’t speak up for the women, what am I here for? I was not chosen as a woman leader just for position and name, but to shoulder all the works and responsibilities as a woman leader which I have never neglected an inch, including voicing and highlighting all the inequalities, concerns, needs and voices of women and those I lead,” said Doris.
She said there were facts and figures to substantiate her arguments and concerns which are readily available and visible.
“The question is, do you all really care? Or is the reality such that you know but you pretend not to know?
“Please try to understand us, appreciate and acknowledge our existence. We are your friends and not enemies. Give us equal opportunity and allow us to feel your sincerity,” said Doris who is also the political secretary to Premier of Sarawak.
She said PRS should embrace equality, gender equality and the spirit of solidarity as she believed that ‘Culture doesn’t make people. People make culture. If it’s true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture’, quoting Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
“I am very impressed and agree with that quote because each of us has a responsibility to strive to make a difference.
“If those customs and traditions are no longer relevant in this millennium, we change them so that they become relevant and inclusive for us and for PRS,” said Doris. — DayakDaily
