RuehYinn & Juleen @ blueepinkk.com

KUCHING: Wanita MCA chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen will gauge the readiness of men to accept a woman leader before making a decision on contesting one of the top three posts in the party elections.

She said that if the men in the party were ready to accept her, she would consider going for the president’s post. (The Star, 05/08/08)

My first question: Why do you need the men’s approval in the first place?

“If they are not ready to accept me as president, I will make a different decision. But whatever it is, I will be contesting in the party elections for either the president, deputy president or vice-president’s post,” she said Monday. (TheStar, 05/08/08)

My second question: Why is your statement sounds so contradicting?

“I don’t worry about my capabilities, my ability or teamwork. But I will have to study the mindset of MCA members, particularly the men. It’s not something that can be changed overnight,” she said. (The Star, 05/08/08)

My third question: Does it matter if their (men) mindset are like that?

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Here are my opinions…

I think she should just go ahead, if she is ready to face the men for the central committee position. I think to gauge the readiness of men to accept a woman leader is irrelevant. Men being men, will always welcome the challenge. I think there are more implications if the men were to say NO.

Besides, it is apparent that there are no short of female leaders throughout the world. You have Margaret Thatcher, the late Benazir Bhutto and Maria Arroyo, President of the Philippines. In local scene, we even have Dr. Wan Azizah as the Opposition Leader. You go if you know you are ready to pick up the challenge. It has absolutely nothing to do with the men’s mindset. It only deals with your mindset. Why let men dictate whether you should go or not, in the first place?

You go in and change their mindset and not wait for them (the men) to change their mindset. The later sounds easier but less glorious, isn’t it? I thought a leader is to act to make thing happens rather than to act after thing had already happened…

Secondly, I think her mind is pretty fickle. One moment, she will need to gauge the readiness of men before making decision. And the next moment, she claimed she’ll go ahead no matter what.

SO WHAT IS WHAT NOW? GO OR NO GO?

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I think she has much to learn from 19 year old golf professional, Michelle Wie…

These are some of Michelle’s achievements under her belt. Only make possible because of her no second thought to challenge men:-

• The first female to qualify for a USGA championship that is generally played by males - Age 15 (2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship Pittsburgh sectional)
• The youngest female to make a cut in any professional male tour event - Age 16 (2006 SK Telecom Open)
• The first female to make a cut on the Asian Tour - Age 16 (2006 SK Telecom Open)
• The first female medalist in a men’s U.S. Open qualifying tournament – Age 16 (2006 U.S. Open Local Qualifying at Turtle Bay Hawaii)

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I think Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen should just take the risk or just leave it. She cannot afford to play safe if she wants to be on the TOP.

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To read the newspaper article, click here

To find out more about Michelle Wie, click here