YB Chong Eng

Assembly person in Penang State; Chair of Penang Women’s Development Centre; Former Member of Malaysian Parliament (1999-2013)

“There is no social justice if there is no gender equality.”

Growing up as one of eleven children of rubber tappers in a Chinese village, YB Chong realized she needed an education to be more than a rubber tapper herself. With the help of an older brother, she became the rst girl from her village to complete a university education. Her subsequent career in the Democratic Action Party led her to become the rst woman member of the Malaysian Parliament from an opposition party. She pursued legislation in support of women’s empowerment and gender rights. Currently, she advocates for these and other social justice concerns in the Penang State Assembly and as Chair of the Penang Women’s Development Centre. This state agency recently launched their “Go Orange” campaign aimed at preventing violence against women while combining a strong commitment to environmental concerns, creating aordable housing and democratizing the public budgeting process.