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There’s always room for more women in politics: Grace Fu

SINGAPORE — There is space for greater female participation in Singapore politics and even in the higher levels of political office, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu today (Sept 4), adding that it is only a matter of time before qualified female candidates with the right experience will come to the fore.

PAP candidate for Yuhua SMC, Ms Grace Fu. TODAY file photo

PAP candidate for Yuhua SMC, Ms Grace Fu. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — There is space for greater female participation in Singapore politics and even in the higher levels of political office, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu today (Sept 4), adding that it is only a matter of time before qualified female candidates with the right experience will come to the fore.

Ms Fu, who is the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) candidate for Yuhua Single Member Constituency (SMC), told TODAY during a morning walkabout that the primary reason for her optimism on greater female participation in politics is that both genders now enjoy equal opportunities in schools and education based on merit.

Ms Fu, who is also the Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Environment and Water Resources, said that times have changed as compared to the pre-1965 generation, when families experienced financial constraints, therefore, limiting the opportunities for women to be educated.

“If you look at literacy — only 60 per cent of women (then) were educated. During my time, only 10 per cent (of women were) in the university cohort,” she noted.

In her view, this has contributed to a limited pool of tertiary-educated women with the necessary work experience in senior positions and the tested ability to serve residents on the ground, resulting in a situation where women are currently under-represented in local politics.

“(Now) almost 100 per cent of women go to school, and the pipeline (of talented candidates) is very strong. So, I think it’s just a matter of time before you’ll see more women being able to take up that role (of representing their constituents in Parliament),” she said.

She highlighted that there is already a trend of greater female participation in politics.

Ms Fu added that she was heartened to see more female candidates coming forward to contest in the current General Election (GE), from both the PAP and the Opposition.

She stressed that this was a positive development for Singapore as a whole.

When asked if there is still room for empowering women in Singapore, Ms Fu said: “I think the PAP represents a Singapore that has lots of opportunities for women … We will do more to try to support women to have both work and family.”

Going forward, she said what may be necessary is to have more childcare support, including more flexible arrangements for women.

“How do we get companies to have a more flexible work arrangement? Allowing women more options, encouraging them to start a family — these are all important issues that we’re just beginning (to look into),” she added.

Commenting on her chances at the polls against the Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) candidate Jaslyn Go, Ms Fu highlighted her decade of experience working with residents in the neighbourhood, but stressed that she believed the GE is a time for everyone to reflect on their options and choices, and to look at issues with a sense of responsibility.

“It’s every vote that counts, and I’m going for every single one,” she said.

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