KOTA KINABALU – Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas gave birth to a girl only last September, but her passion for politics and social justice for women and youth is undiminished.
Her defeat in the 14th general election against Parti Bersatu Sabah stalwart Datuk Joniston Bangkuai did not knock her down, proving to herself and many others that she is not just a pretty face in Parti Warisan Sabah.
Jo-Anna, who is deputy head of Wirawati, the party’s young women’s movement, is known for speaking her mind, including her thoughts on the goings-on in Malaysia.
“There are many issues. But the one that I really want to talk about is the reconvening of Parliament,” she told The Vibes.
“Although the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has clearly expressed his view that Parliament can sit during the emergency, on a date deemed appropriate by His Majesty and on the advice of the prime minister, there are too many people trying to interpret the emergency against the federal constitution and why Parliament cannot reconvene soonest.
“This is among the many reasons the country has become unstable. The Parliament sitting is important, as we need to resolve all the problems the country is facing now.
“For me, it does not matter which politician has the numbers, or who is prime minister. The government needs to address the economy, the pandemic, the people’s issues, the vaccination programme, and the funds for constituencies.
“All Malaysians have the right to ask these (questions). The MPs are elected for this purpose, and they are duty-bound to question and get the answers as to where taxpayers’ money is going,” said Jo-Anna, who holds a Master of Law (International Law and Corporate Social Responsiblity) from University of the West of England.
Give others a chance
She said the country’s political climate needs a makeover, with more parties giving women and youth a shot at politics.
She noted that politics has long been overrun by warlords whose career spans many decades, adding that a mix of young and old can rejuvenate Malaysia’s political scene.
“To be fair, I am not saying we should disregard senior and (older) politicians. We still need their experience and knowledge.
“But, we want new faces. We want technology-savvy people and young professionals to enter politics. We want younger brains to take on the role of decision-makers.
“There are still many warlords, and I feel it is time for them to give the younger ones a chance to fight their own battles in politics.”
She also expressed concerns about the Election Commission denying youth their constitutional right to vote.
On the matter of Undi18, she said it shows that the government and authorities are detached from the realities on the ground.
“Looking at the current situation, the most affected are the youth, because many of them have lost their jobs, have trouble finding work, and cannot continue their studies.
“They also have no say, even though they are the most directly impacted by the pandemic,” she said, adding that not implementing Undi18 is an insult to youth’s ability to make their own informed decisions.
Make way for women
Jo-Anna said women, too, should be given the opportunity to rise, and that it is time for them to be taken seriously.
“In many professions, there’s this idea and stereotype in the male-dominated world, where women are left stuck under a glass ceiling or glued to a sticky floor in their undertakings.
“Women have to work twice as hard just to be taken seriously by their (male) counterparts.”
She noted that there are few female politicians, not just in Malaysia, but globally.
However, she said, women have proven to be just as capable as men, pointing out that the Covid-19 crisis has shown that women are able leaders.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are examples of female leaders making decisions on the virus response in their respective countries.
Thanks to Arden’s quick action, New Zealand has been hailed around the world for its swift initiatives, which prevented high infection and death tolls in the country.
Merkel, meanwhile, threatened German states with centralisation unless they took action.
“Women should be allowed to showcase their abilities, too. There’s only a handful of us in Malaysia,” said Jo-Anna.
She said it is not just the men in politics who should change their mindset on the matter, but voters and the public, too, should allow women to rise in their careers.
The country needs to put an end to winning in politics using the race and religion card, she said, adding that stability can be achieved via economic activities. – The Vibes, April 4, 2021
