Women holding playcard and posing for photo at the forum of women's leadership in politics at Royal Lake Club, Kuala Lumpur. - FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: There is a need for a dynamic and aggressive push from the government and NGOs to achieve the target of having a 30% representation of women in politics, says Wanita MCA.
Its chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie said in terms of candidate selection, MCA had been heading in that direction.
“All the party presidents have also been in support of this call,” she said after moderating a session at the Women Leadership in Politics forum at the Royal Lake Club here yesterday.
Heng said the 30% policy was launched in 2014 but until today, the country had failed to hit the target.“If we had followed the plan soon after its launch, it should have been achieved in five years,” she said, adding that the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index that put Malaysia’s ranking at 103 was “disappointing”.
Representatives from 14 political parties and 38 groups attended the forum, which was aimed at pushing for a 30% representation of women in politics from across the political divide to ensure there is a strong representation at the Parliament and state assembly levels.
During the forum, a resolution to form a GE15 Civil Society Monitoring Committee to encourage an increase in the number of women candidates and carry out media campaigns on the role of women leaders also received support.
In the long term, the committee plans to initiate legislative reformation at the federal and state levels to increase the number of female political leaders. Currently, only around 14% of MPs are women.
Heng said the forum represented a paradigm shift towards achieving the 30% women representatives’ policy objective.
“To have the secretaries general of political parties and other members being part of the forum is a sign of sincerity and commitment towards achieving the 30% goal.
“The idea of having a committee is also a good move to ensure support for the policy is accepted,” she added.
Earlier, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said the lack of women representation in politics was a grave concern, adding that this was despite women making up 51.1% out of the 21 million eligible voters in the country as of March.
She said although the target was still far off, it was time to expedite the process and that the 30% representation must be achieved in the 15th General Election.
“We need commitment from all parties including political parties, the government, the people and stakeholders to make it happen.
“The proportion of women voters is greater than men, so if we want more voices of women at the Dewan Rakyat or other levels, we don’t only need nominees but also candidates who can win to be voted as representatives.
“The 30% (target) must also exist in the political parties’ structures themselves, including the leadership,” she told reporters.
The forum was organised by the ministry together with the National Council of Women’s Organisations.
Among the speakers were Barisan Nasional secretary general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, PAS secretary general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, DAP secretary general Anthony Loke, PAS Muslimat chief Senator Nuridah Mohd Salleh, Wanita PKR chief Senator Fadhlina Sidek, and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Srikandi deputy Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.
