KUALA TERENGGANU (Bernama): Kuala Terengganu PAS Dewan Muslimat secretary Zuraida Md Noor created history when she was appointed as the first assemblywoman in the state on Thursday (Nov 29).
Zuraida, who is also Terengganu Ameerah director, was appointed as the state's first assemblywoman during the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly sitting, in line with Article 27 (2) of the Terengganu Constitution.
It is stipulated in the state constitution that if there are no elected women or non-Muslim representatives, the assembly could appoint up to four people (to safeguard the interests of the groups).
This provision allowed Zuraida to be appointed as assemblywoman without going through the electoral process and without holding any state constituency.
Earlier, Paka assemblyman Satiful Bahri Mamat proposed Zuraida's appointment, and it was unanimously accepted by all assemblymen before she was sworn in before Speaker Yahaya Ali at the end of the sitting.
Zuraida, 38, described her appointment as an honour as a sole woman representative to champion all aspects of women-related issues such as welfare, health, economics and family.
Mother of three children Zuraida received an early education at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Pasir Panjang, Kuala Terengganu, then obtained a Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering from the Terengganu Advanced Technical Institute (TATI) and before earning her bachelor's degree in Islamic Studies from Open University Malaysia.
Mentri Besar Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said with the appointment it was hoped Zuraida to represent the voice of women in Terengganu as the state never had an assemblywoman before, compared to other states. - Bernama
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