Open Up MCA Youth for Young Female

The newly elected (won without contest) MCA Youth Chief Dato' Dr Wee Ka Siong had announced 3 reform for MCA Youth during his election campaign.

1. To rename MCA State Youth

2. To reduce MCA Youth age limit from 45 to 40 years old

3. To open up MCA Youth for female under 45 years old

First reform is easy, its just the way we call State Youth and the press had changed the term and it is considered done.

Second reform will take at least 5 years. It will begin from branch, division, state and finally national youth. This is more complicated because it needs to be passed in AGM or an EGM, and the new leadership needs to convince central delegates to support a resolution to amend the MCA Youth By-Law and later send for approval by MCA Central Committee. Even though this will take sometimes but generally the grass root will support for this has been an issue dragged for the past 18 years since Tan Sri Dato Chan Kong Choy was the Youth Chief.

The real challenge lies on the reform to open up MCA Youth for young female. It was brought up during campaign period and the first exchange of view between Dr Wee and Wanita Chairman Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun was during an exclusive interview by Sin Chew Daily. Clearly, Dr Wee's proposal was openly rejected by Datin Paduka Chew.

Chew resisted the proposal because according to her, the move will challenge the structure of Wanita MCA.

Chew negative respond for the proposal in the early stage has trigger us to pursue the issue openly. We know very well that if the issue is to be discussed in closed door or set up "a joint committee" to "study" the issue will bring us to no way. Hence, an open campaign to tell MCA Youth our proposal was launched during the election dinner on October 16, 2008 in Wisma MCA. 20 buntings was hung and 50 young male and female wore the "I do" T-shirt on the dinner to showcase to all central delegates our aim for the reform.

It works well on the night and throughout the 3 days assembly and everyone seems accept the concept pretty well, until the final day of MCA General Assembly when a newly elected Wanita U35 CC severely criticized MCA Youth for asking to open up the youth for young female. Sadly what she debated was not the core issue, but instead she pinpoint on the design of the bunting and said it was more suitable to hang on Pub rather than Wisma MCA. Her remark quickly raised the media focus and the next day, MCA Youth was reported as hanging bunting to recruit Bar Girl.

I was deeply disappointed by her remark and thus get all 5 MCA Youth U35 CC to call for press conference to clarify the issue and to stand our ground and win back our dignity. My intention was very clear, to tell my fellow Wanita MCA the real problem we face on the ground. You can close the door and debate until the cows come home but the reality is that most young female feel they are more suitable to join the youth wing rather than Wanita.

I may be too rough in bringing up this issue but I didn't mean to hurt the Wanita, what i did was telling the truth, and in most cases, the truth hurt!

There is no reason for us to continue the fracas on little issue like the design of the bunting. Lets work together on how to win back the youngster to support us. The youth wing is just ask to restore the original status of wing, which is taking young member (under 40 years old) regardless of gender.

We should get back to the discourse, not the little issue like design.

Its easy to know whether this is a right direction, just conduct a survey and the result will not lie.