PRESS STATEMENT FOR RELEASE

18 JULY 2014

NOT ONLY DOES PENANG WELCOME WOMEN LEADERS, WE ALSO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO TAKE CHARGE

Benazir Bhutto, Khaleda Zia, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Tansu Ciller, and Sheikh Hasina Wazed. These five people, in spite of being both women and Muslim, were elected as the heads of states of their respective countries.

In light of the recent remarks by Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun that women, on the grounds of menstruation, are not suitable to hold the post of Selangor Menteri Besar, we do seem to be years, if not decades, behind nations such as Turkey, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have had women Prime Ministers.

It is remarkable to think that a person, especially one that is as highly educated and holding such an important position as Mohd Hafarizam, holds on to such antiquated notions of gender. While there might be some restrictions on the basis of religion that could exclude a woman leader from participating in particular state ceremonies, it is but a miniscule part of what a Menteri Besar does.

To view this in contrast with what we are doing in Penang, we are leading with the empowerment of women and the grooming of women leaders – for both the public and corporate worlds.

In 2011, the Penang State Government saw the need to cultivate and promote gender and social equality in all walks of life. This saw the establishment of Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), a state agency in which an integral aspect of its work to increase women’s representation in leadership.

The importance of including women in social development and national building is something that we are very well aware of, and this is why PWDC has formulated a leadership workshop series under its Women’s Empowerment and Leadership programme called Lean IN @ Penang.

Through the Lean IN @ Penang workshops, the participants, who comprise of some of the women leaders in Penang’s corporate sector, are educated on gender perspectives in hopes of instilling gender sensitivity. Key topics covered in the workshops include identifying barriers against women’s advancement at the workplace and how to address these issues.

To date, we have reached out to close to 100 women from Penang, and in the process have equipped these leaders with gender sensitive awareness and knowledge. Through this, they can not only act on gender discrimination within their corporations, but also in the public arena.

It is the hope of the Penang State Government for more women to take charge and become leaders; for more women representatives in politics, in the state assemblies, Parliament and in the municipal councils, as well as having women Menteri Besar and Prime Ministers. And perhaps, one day, women in Malaysia will never have to face prejudiced remarks like that made by Mohd Hafarizam and his like.

CHONG ENG

Penang State EXCO for Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development

Chairperson of Penang Women’s Development Corporation

Majlis Pelancaran Kontrak Komuniti Program Pembersihan dan Projek Mengecat PPR Jalan Sungai

Ucapan Oleh

 Yang Amat Berhormat Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang

untuk 

Ahad, 17 Ogos 2014 di Dataran PPR Jalan Sungai

YB Chow Kon Yeow, EXCO Kerajaan Tempatan, Pengurusan Lalulintas dan Tebatan Banjir; dan juga merangkap Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pemandu Projek Perintis Bajet Responsif Gender dan Partisipatori (GRPB)

YB Puan Chong Eng, Ahli EXCO Belia dan Sukan, Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Komuniti Negeri Pulau Pinang, dan juga merangkap Pengerusi Lembaga Pengarah Perbadanan Pembangunan Wanita Pulau Pinang (PWDC)

Yang Berhormat YB Lim Siew Khim, ADUN Sungai Pinang

YB-YB DUN dan Parlimen

YB Dato’ Patahiyah Ismail, Yang DiPertua Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP)

Yang Berusaha Ahli-ahli Majlis dan Ketua-ketua Jabatan MPPP

Yang Berusaha Ahli-Ahli Lembaga Pengarah PWDC

Yang Berusaha Puan Aloyah Bakar, Pemangku Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif PWDC; dan Pengarah Projek Perintis GRPB

Yang Berusaha Encik Shahrudin Mohd Sharif, Pengerusi Pertubuhan Komuniti PPR Jalan Sungai

Ahli Jawatankuasa JKKK Kampung Maqbul

Ahli Jawatankuasa  Pertubuhan Komuniti PPR Jalan

Rakan-rakan media yang saya dihormati

Penduduk PPR Jalan Sungai yang saya raikan.

Selamat pagi dan salam sejahtera kepada semua.

Saya sangat gembira dan berbesar hati kerana berkesempatan untuk datang pada hari ini untuk berjumpa dengan penduduk Flat PPR Jalan Sungai bagi menjayakan Majlis Pelancaran Kontrak Komuniti Program Pembersihan dan Projek Mengecat Bangunan Flat PPR Jalan Sungai.

Kali terakhir saya datang ke sini adalah pada 10 March 2013. Pada waktu itu saya membuat pelancaran projek mengecat untuk Flat PPR Jalan Sungai sebaik saja bajet diluluskan di peringkat Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang. Pada waktu itu, suasana tempat ini kusam dan tidak ceria. Tetapi pada hari ini, dengan warna cat baru, suasana tempat ini telah menampakkan perubahan yang sangat ketara.

Para hadirin sekalian,

Persekitaran yang bersih dan ceria di kawasan tempat tinggal akan memberikan impak yang positif  kepada penghuninya. Projek mengecat bangunan flat di PPR Jalan Sungai ini jelas memberikan nafas baru kepada penduduk di sini. Untuk makluman semua, Flat PPR Jalan Sungai ini kelihatan tersergam indah dari jendela KOMTAR berbanding dengan bangunan-bangunan lain kerana warnanya yang menarik. Penduduk PPR Jalan Sungai bijak menggunakan kuasa yang diberikan kepada anda. Anda semua telah membuat pemilihan warna cat yang anda sukai bagi tempat kediaman anda melalui proses partisipatori iaitu undian penduduk. Tahniah saya ucapkan kepada penduduk PPR Jalan Sungai. Ternyata pilihan warna cat ini menarik, segar dan sedap mata memandang!

Para hadirin sekalian,

Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang sangat mementingkan kebersihan Negeri Pulau Pinang. Kebersihan melambangkan peribadi seseorang. Oleh yang demikian, kebersihan di sesebuah negeri melambangkan rakyatnya. Saya amat mengalu-alukan pendekatan kreatif dan lestari untuk menangani isu kebersihan ini. Pada hari ini di tempat kediaman anda,  satu inovasi baru telah dilakukan untuk mengatasi isu kebersihan di mana satu Kontrak Komuniti Program Pembersihan di PPR Jalan Sungai telah dijalankan dengan jayanya.

Kontrak Komuniti adalah hasil proses partisipatori iaitu dialog dalam Kumpulan Tumpu-Bincang dan Undian Penduduk yang telah dijalankan di bawah Projek Perintis Bajet Responsif-Gender dan Partisipatori dengan penduduk di PPR ini sejak 2012.  Kontrak Komuniti ini adalah yang julung kalinya dijalankan di Pulau Pinang, mahupun di Malaysia. Kejayaan pendekatan ini adalah seperti yang anda lihat sendiri dan nikmati pada hari ini. Dulunya kotor dan tidak terurus, tetapi pada hari ini tidak lagi. Ini menunjukkan apabila kepercayaan dan tanggungjawab diberikan kepada penduduk untuk bertindak sebagai rakan-kongsi Kerajaan Negeri dan untuk menjaga kebersihan tempat tinggal mereka, transformasi positif akan terhasil.

Para hadirin sekalian,

Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang melalui Perbadanan Wanita Pulau Pinang dengan kerjasama Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang telah menjalankan Projek Perintis Bajet Responsif-Gender dan Partisipatori di PPR Jalan Sungai untuk mecapai visi dan aspirasi tersebut. Besar harapan saya untuk menjadikan PPR Jalan Sungai ini sebagai salah satu model pembangunan masyarakat untuk diikuti oleh komuniti lain di Pulau Pinang.

Untuk tujuan tersebut, sebagai tanda komitmen kami, Kerajaan Negeri dan MPPP lebih dari 2.3 Juta Ringgit telah dibelanjakan di PPR Jalan Sungai sejak Projek Perintis ini dijalankan pada tahun 2012 sehingga 2014 yang merangkumi:

1. Pembersihan                                                                                 RM278,462.00

2. Penyelenggaran Lif-Lif Bulanan                                                    RM113,400.00

3. Pembaikan lif-lif                                                                             RM108,752.00

4. Kerja-kerja Pembaikan Flat                                                           RM741,011.00

5. Kerja Mengecat Semula                                                                RM700,000.00

6. Kelengkapan sistem pencegahan kebakaran                               RM123,400.00

7. Projek dan program bersama penduduk (Projek Perintis GRPB)  RM250,000.00

 Jumlah keseluruhan                                                                 RM2,315,025.00

Proses yang anda lalui projek ini bertujuan untuk melatih dan memperkasakan komuniti dan pada masa yang sama untuk menjadi rakan kongsi kepada kerajaan tempatan dalam pembangunan negeri. Ia bertujuan untuk mewujudkan perhubungan dua hala di antara penduduk dan kerajaan tempatan dan menggalakkan rakyat untuk turut sama terlibat dalam proses perancangan, pembuatan keputusan  dan perlaksanaan sesuatu projek rakyat. 

Proses ini akan mewujudkan perhubungan yang baik di mana kerajaan tempatan menjadi lebih responsif kepada keperluan berbeza di kalangan komuniti yang berlainan lantas kerajaan lebih cekap membuat keputusan dan efektif dalam ketetapan bajet yang releven kepada keperluan rakyat.

Baru-baru ini Pulau Pinang di bawah Projek Perintis Bajet Responsif-Gender dan Partisipatori telah mendapat penghormatan untuk menerima anugerah khas Juri ‘Amalan Terbaik dalam Partisipasi Rakyat’ (Best Practice in Citizen Participation) di International Observer Participatory Democracy (IOPD) Ke-8 di Brazil.

Saya ingin merakamkan terima kasih kepada pihak Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang kerana memberi komitmen yang padu sebagai pemberi perkhidmatan yang responsif kepada penduduk di sini. Saya ingin mengucapkan syabas kepada PWDC di bawah EXCO Wanita menerajui Projek Printis ini.

Terima kasih kepada JKKK Kampung Maqbul dan Ahli Jawatankuasa Pertubuhan Komuniti PPR Jalan Sungai di atas kerjsama yang diberikan terhadap projek ini. 

Akhir sekali kepada semua penduduk PPR, saya ucapkan sekali lagi, tahniah dan syabas! Saya rasa belum terlambat untuk saya mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya kepada yang merayakannya.

Saya dengan rasa bangga dan gembira melancarkan Kontrak Komuniti Pembersihan PPR Jalan Sungai dan Projek Mengecat Flat PPR Jalan Sungai.

PRESS STATEMENT

17 August 2014

Gender-Responsive and Participatory Budgeting Pilot Project at PPR Jalan Sungai

The Gender-Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) pilot project is an initiative undertaken by the Penang State Government and implemented by the Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC) in collaboration with Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP).  

GRPB's pilot project and the implementation of a Community Contract in PPR Jalan Sungai between MPPP and the Resident Association or Pertubuhan Komuniti PPR Jalan Sungai (PKPJS) is the first-of-its-kind undertaken at the local government level in Malaysia.

It aims to:- 

1. Strengthen and transform the two-way communication between the local government and the local community. The local government as service providers and the people as end-users become partners in a systematic process of participation and involvement;
2. Better understand the different needs of the local residents disaggregated by age and gender;
3. Empower the local residents to voice their needs and to encourage them to actively participate in the planning and decision making on matters that affect them;
4. Encourage residents to cooperate and develop a sense of ownership over the facilities and amenities provided for them;
5. Emphasize the need for mindset and attitude change amongst the community so that they too become active change agents in the development of Penang; and
6. Assist the state government and local authorities in formulating policies and preparing budgets to meet the needs and aspirations of the people.

The pilot project at PPR Jalan Sungai commenced in April 2012 and involved a "bottom-up" approach whereby a consultation process involving the residents took place in four (4) stages:          

Stage 1 – Census: A census was conducted among residents from every household to obtain demographic data based on gender, age, occupation and ethnicity.

Stage 2 – Focus Group Discussions: Several focus group meetings and discussions were held with the residents to identify their needs and problems. From the feedback, 6 projects were prioritized and shortlisted as: i) building maintenance, ii) security, iii) cleanliness, iv) parking facilities, v) recreation playground and vi) residents’ awareness-raising programmes.

Stage 3 - Voting on Priorities for Residents in PPR Jalan Sungai: Every resident aged 10 and above were given 5 vouchers with nominal value of RM100 each amounting to a total of RM500 to cast their votes and indicate their priorities. A resident had the option to place all their vouchers under a specific project priority say cleanliness or spread the vouchers amongst the other identified projects.  During the three (3) days voting period, a total of 1,160 residents or 69.59 % out of 1,667 eligible voters turned out to cast their vouchers and indicate which project they wanted prioritized.

Stage 4 – Planning and Implementation of Prioritized Projects: Community Cleaning Contract.

Building maintenance and cleanliness were voted in as top priorities by the residents of PPR Jalan Sungai. Consequently, the GRPB team together with the Residents Association came up with the proposal for the community to take over the cleaning contract which until then was awarded to an external cleaning contractor that was appointed by the MPPP.

The residents association was officially registered and named Pertubuhan Komuniti PPR Jalan Sungai (PKPJS). Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) duly recognized PKPJS and gave their consent for the resident association with the assistance of PWDC-GRPB to enter into a Community Contract to manage the entire cleanliness of the PPR Jalan Sungai. Residents living at the PPR were invited to apply for the position of supervisor and the six available cleaning positions. Interviews were conducted on 26 August and the successful candidates comprising men and women were duly appointed.   

To kick start this unique community led initiative, PWDC, through GRPB, has allocated RM70,000 to finance the operating costs for the first 8 months of this cleaning contract which started from September 2014 to April 2014.

It is hoped that through this community contract the residents will start to appreciate the meaning of taking ownership and develop a sense of responsibility towards the upkeep and maintenance of their premises in particular the common areas.

On May 2014, PKPJS was officially recognised by MPPP to be the contractor for the cleanliness program at PPR Jalan Sungai. Today is the launch ceremony to formalise the agreement.

The residents association, PKPJS is determined to make this project a success. If indeed the project proves to be a success this will serve as a wonderful example of decentralisation and people empowerment.  

Already a major positive of this contract is that it has created employment for seven residents who live in the community. In essence this means that seven families’ livelihood has been enhanced. There are also plans in the future for other income generating projects to be initiated for the residents of PPR Jalan Sungai.

This Community Contract will be monitored by MPPP’s Valuation Department and the Sungai Pinang state assemblywoman Ms Lim Siew Khim under her JKKK.

This community led initiative represents a major mindset shift for the residents. MPPP as the service provider and the community as service users has through this project enhance their rapport and strengthen their relationship with one another.

Indeed the unique community led cleaning contract represents a major transformation breakthrough that will hopefully set the path for wider people’s participation on matters that affect them in the planning and budgeting process by the local government.

We are also celebrating the renewed and refreshed outlook and imagery that a fresh craft of paint in vibrant colours has given to PPR Jalan Sungai. It is very significant the fresh new look that you see today has come about through democratic process wherein the residents participated in choosing the final paint colour for their flat through a voting process.

MPPP and PWDC also would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of PPR Jalan Sungai who is instrumental in the recognition that we received from the International Observer Participatory Democracy (IOPD) where we got the Special Mention of the International Jury of IOPD 8^th ‘Best Practice in Citizen Participation’ award.

Indeed this initial transformation represents the beginning of what we envisage to be a progressive journey that the local community has now embarked on. In order to aid and assist the community further, PWDC have organised and will continue to organise “capacity building” sessions that will provide relevant skills and knowledge. To date, we have organised two workshops on Organisational Basic Skills (Kemahiran Asas Jawatankuasa) and Effective Communication; and workshop on Introduction on and Good Governance. In the pipeline we also have plans to organise workshop on Economic Empowerment (include topic on micro-credit financing); and also a workshop on negotiation skills and presentation skills.

The ultimate objective is the empowerment and social upliftment of the community which in our view will inevitably manifest in greater gender equality and social justice for all.

Prepared by

Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) and Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) under the Gender-Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) Pilot Project

Press Release

17 August 2014

Penang Sets a New Benchmark as CM Launches the Ground-breaking Community Contract at PPR Jalan Sungai

GEORGE TOWN: The Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) or People's Housing Projects at Jalan Sungai sets the benchmark for community-led initiatives with the launch of its Community Contract on 17 August.

Part of the Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) pilot project led by Penang Women’s Development Corporation in collaboration with Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (MPPP) and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (MPSP), the residents association of PPR Jalan Sungai embarked on a Community Contract to manage the entire cleanliness of their flat complex.

The residents association was officially registered and named Pertubuhan Komuniti PPR Jalan Sungai (PKPJS). On May 2014, PKPJS was officially recognised by MPPP to be the contractor for the cleanliness program at PPR Jalan Sungai. This marks the first-of-its-kind undertaken at the local government level in Malaysia

Another remarkable aspect of the Community Contract is that the residents living at the PPR were invited to apply for the position of supervisor and the six available cleaning positions, with the successful candidates comprising men and women duly appointed.  

The PPR Jalan Sungai Community Contract was launched by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Also present at the launching ceremony were EXCO for Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation YB Chow Kon Yeow; EXCO for Youth & Sports, Women, Family and Community Development YB Chong Eng; Sungai Pinang State Assemblywoman YB Lim Siew Khim; Yang Dipertua MPPP Dato’ Patahiyah Ismail; and  PKPJS Chairman En. Shahrudin Mohd Shariff.

CM also presented PKPJS the “Best Practice in Citizen Participation” Special Mention Award from the International Observatory on Participatory Democracy (IODP) that was conferred to the GRPB pilot project in Brazil this past June.

For more information on GRPB, please contact

Cik Shariza Kamarudin

GRPB Pilot Project Officer, Penang Women’s Development Corporation

T 04-261 2835 / 5261 ● E shariza.kamarudin@pwdc.org.my ● W http://www.pwdc.org.my/

The Executive Summary of the Childcare Policy is available both in Bahasa Malaysia and English.

For a copy of the full Childcare Policy & Action Plan, kindly contact PWDC at info@pwdc.org.my.

Press Releases

• PWDC Appoints New CEO
• CM Launches PPR Jalan Sungai Community Contract Launch - 17 August 2014
• IODP Special Mention Award for GRPB - 21 July 2014
• Lean IN @ Penang Forum - 3 July 2014

• Statement by YB Chong Eng on JAIS's sermon on "tutup aurat prevents rape" - 9 February 2015
• Statement by YB Chong Eng on Datuk Shahrizat and WANITA UMNO's Pro-Sedition Act Campaign - 11 November 2014
• Statement by YB Chong Eng on Women Representation in Politics - 31 October 2014
• PPR Jalan Sungai Community Contract Press Statement - 17 August 2014
• Statement by YB Chong Eng on Women Leaders - 18 July 2014

Speeches

• Ucapan Penggulungan oleh YB Chong Eng untuk Persidangan DUN Pulau Pinang - 14 Mei 2015

• Ucapan Ketua Menteri untuk Majlis Pelancaran Kontrak Komuniti PPR Jalan Sungai - 17 Ogos 2014