BE A MAN LIOW! Don't keep winnable seats for men, assign TOUGH ONES TO WOMEN

It is least expected that MCA did not field its strongest candidate and President Liow Tiong Lai to contest against Anwar Ibrahim in Kajang. A commander who uses subterfuge in order to gain public support must be strongly condemned.

Chew Mei Fun is clearly a scapegoat in this case - fielded to shoulder the blame should she lose in the by-election. Why field a woman candidate only when the chances of winning are slim? Women should be fielded in winning seats instead.

This is so typical of MCA to keep winnable seats for men and assign tough ones to women.

Mei Fun should not allow herself to used

Chew could also have gracefully rejected the offer to contest in Kajang too, but she did not.

Why did she not reject the offer to contest when she so confidently resigned from her top post just to make a stance against Chua Soi Lek in 2010?

Why did Chew resign from Pempena in December 2008 after allegations of graft and breach surfaced a few months before in July?

Here is an opportunity for Chew to make a stance that a woman’s dignity should come first and that women should not be expected ‘to stand up and die’ whenever summoned by men or merely be used as a political pawn.

A 'has-tried' at Kajang does not help raise 30% women's target

The international target of encouraging at least 30 percent women’s participation in decision making should be taken in a more serious manner.

Chew’s action of accepting the offer to contest will jeopardise women’s credibility to contest in the future.

The fault ultimately lies with Liow as this only shows that he has no guts to face Anwar Ibrahim.

YB Zuraida Kamaruddin is Ampang MP & deputy director of the Kajang by-election