No double standard, says Lim Hwee Hua

June 18, 2009
WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT
No double standard, says Lim Hwee Hua

I REFER to Ms Netina Tan's letter, 'Conflicting signals' (June 6). She said my comment on quotas 'reflects the Government's double standard on ethnic and gender representation in Parliament', and that I have suggested that, 'unlike ethnic minority groups', women can be elected into government on merit, which is contradicted by the 'low women's representation in higher political and corporate office'.

Ms Tan clearly has a genuine concern for the advancement of women, which is laudable. However, she has misunderstood my statement. A 'quota' means a fixed or maximum number to be allowed. A quota of women in political or corporate office would detract from their selection on merit, which I believe to be true. For example, if we set a fixed number of 50 per cent of women in Parliament, but if, based on merit, more than 50 per cent deserve places, then a quota would be unnecessarily restrictive and self-defeating. Conversely, if fewer than the prescribed minimum of 50 per cent deserve places, then there would always be doubt whether the ones admitted were all meritorious.

Ms Tan's suggestion that my comment contradicts the group representation constituency (GRC) scheme is misguided. As explained by the Prime Minister recently in Parliament, the GRC system is designed to ensure multiracial representation and encourage political parties to appeal to all races with moderate policies and not to one race or another with chauvinist or extremist policies.

Moreover, gender and minority representation are not directly comparable. As Mr Wah June Hwang validly observed in his letter last Friday, 'Gender quota - a slippery slope', unlike racial minorities, women make up half the voters.

Nonetheless, I am not suggesting that our minority representatives in Government cannot be elected on merit. All our MPs are selected - and elected - on merit.

The People's Action Party's commitment to including more women is reflected in the increased number of its women candidates in the past two elections. The comparatively low level of representation in higher political and corporate office does not belie the fact that women can attain such office on merit. Those women who have, did so on merit, without quotas. The reasons why there are not more such women are varied and complex. Some have declined due to personal reasons, family commitments or discomfort with public life. So percentages do not tell the whole story.

There is certainly more room for women to advance in all walks of life, including politics and career. Our women are well up to the challenge.

Lim Hwee Hua (Mrs)
Minister (Prime Minister's Office),
2nd Minister for Finance and Transport
Chairman, PAP Women's Wing

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