KUALA LUMPUR: A new report and comments published by MCA Wanita Chief Yu Chok Tow has said that Malaysian Chinese women are refusing to marry at an earlier age, instead focusing on their careers while they are young. She added that many were picky when it came to choosing life partners or who they date. “They won't get married if they don't think the men are up to par. “This view is seen from the number of women who surpass the men at Wanita MCA's Cupid Space Programme functions every year,” she said at Wisma MCA here yesterday. Yu said many women told the movement they had problems finding life partners as they wanted to focus on their careers first. “They choose to be single and are reluctant to marry down', probably because of their high income and education levels compared to the men. “But, they do want to settle down and have families, and that is why our programmes are still popular,” she said. But women, especially Chinese women of the younger generation, told Bikyamasr.com that this should not be a concern for the country. “We have solid growth rates and women are becoming more empowered,” Leena Tang told Bikyamasr.com. The Kuala Lumpur-based accountant added that “it is time for men to not get scared by women who want to find love, the right partner and have a career. This isn't the Dark Ages. This is modern Malaysia and we are a strong nation.” Other Chinese ethnic women also told Bikyamasr.com similar arguments concerning the number of Chinese women who are preferring a career before marriage. “It just makes sense today,” added Tang. According to statistics from the Cupid Space Program, a majority of the women participants in the study were degree holders. In contrast, SPM holders make up most of the male participants, while the rest are diploma holders. Yu also said since the programme began 12 years ago, women participants made up 65 per cent of the 4,700 members that have been recruited. She also attributed the higher number of women joining Cupid Space to their increased confidence and aggressiveness compared to their male counterparts. “Usually, Malaysian men are quite shy when it comes to these things,” she added. Nevertheless, Yu said the movement was hoping to get an equal number of participants from both sexes in the upcoming 12th annual Cupid Space Speed Dating Party, to be held next month. The event's executor Peggy Lim said more than half of the participants exchanged contact details with a potential partner in past events. “We also have a success rate of 10 per cent, whereby our participants have successfully established a romantic relationship after our events,” she added.
