Chew Mei Fun sworn in as senator (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (pix) has been sworn in as senator, shortly after her appointment as a deputy minister in the Cabinet.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak announced yesterday that Chew will be joining the Cabinet along with five other Chinese Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders as Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister.
Chew said she had not expected to be appointed as a Senator but is happy to accept the position as it provides her a platform to fight for the people.
"I haven't had a platform to fight for the people for a while. As senator, I will be able to better contribute to the country," she told a press conference at Parliament's lobby today.
Chew was also fielded as a candidate against PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail during the Kajang by-election earlier this year, which she lost by a majority of 5,379.
Commenting on her Cabinet appointment, she said she will do her best to contribute to the nation and to adequately assist Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim.
Chew said she will focus on addressing issues related to single parents and the hardcore poor by introducing several programmes which would be able to assist them.
One of the programmes include setting up day care centres so that single parents will be able to work and earn a living without having to worry about their children during work hours.
"One of the ways to bring people out of poverty is to empower them. By taking care of their children, they can go out and work without having to worry about them," she said.
She said two of such centres have already been set up in SJK(C) Sungai Chua and SJK(C) Sungai Way.
Chew also took heed of Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang's advice to maintain the peace and stability of Malaysia's multi-racial and multi-religious society.