GE15: Less than 20% of candidates are female, low number 'not a good look' for Malaysia

Malaysia ranked 103 out of 146 countries in the 2022 World Economic Forum Report and has one of the worst rates of gender disparity among Asean members save for Brunei and Myanmar. Photo: 123rf.com

For the 15th general election (GE15), which has produced many firsts, there is one new record that is a bit of a mixed bag – the number of women candidates vying for political power.

At 187 – 127 for Parliamentary seats and 60 for state seats – it is the highest number of women Malaysia has ever seen contesting in a general election.