Ordinarily in everyday life, they already do thoughtful things for us in myriads of ways in our homes, offices, hospitals, schools...

There is no one of us who could have done without grandmother, mother, aunty, wife, sister, cousin, daughter, niece, neighbour... Not to mention what they do for us in our places of work as bosses or support staff, doctors and nurses, cleaners, teachers, police women, administrators, accountantants... (Indeed in the modern era there is almost no male-only profession or job.)

On top of that, many women combine their paid responsibilities with home responsibilities and community responsibilities. As men, our work responsibilities alone bring most if not all of us home fatigued, drained and in need of recreation, entertainment or just sleep. Women workers come home no less tired, drained or in need of a break. Yet many of them never lose sight of the family needs in a given day even when they are at work away from home. During the lunch break or weekends they have obtained whatever grocery or marketing so that preparation of the family meals could be done upon their return home from outside work. Then there's the supervision of the children's study and homework. There is also the the ferrying of the children to and from school on top of in-house or outside work. Not to forget that many of them are usually also keeping an eye on family expenses vis-a-vis family income.

Just writing this list down makes me tired just thinking of how much energy, strategic thinking, and logistics planning precedes the tireless implementation of all this. Everyday!

Yet still (sigh!) after office and house and family work, many women take on voluntary social and community work. They go about such services in associations, temple, vihara and church where they prove indispensable.

Did somebody in the history of mankind actually say or send round the rumour that women are the weaker sex?

Now, despite all that they already do, THEY are not finished yet! Because on Sunday 18 March, 2012 at 2.00pm at Padang Astaka, Petaling Jaya, on a field where men play their rugby, our brave women will be on a march. Resplendent in their purple outfit and white glove (which a certain male cabinet minister could not bring himself to take seriously), they will turn out  in their thousands as Wanita Suara Perubahan (Women’s Voice for Reform) with the following message to the nation:

A CLEAN GOVERNMENT

1. A GOVERNMENT FREE OF CORRUPTION

2. A DECENT LIVING WAGE

3. A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE

4. AN END TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND ALL GENDERS

5. REPEAL THE PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY ACT

6. FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS

The commitment of OUR BRAVE WOMEN is complete! They show us the way at home, office, neighbourhood, community and nation.

With grateful thanks and prayers,

Goh Keat Peng