Shahrizat: Increase women’s participation in state leadership
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Barisan Nasional ( BN) Women chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has expressed her hope that the state BN could increase the participation of women in the state leadership.
For the record, she said women leaders in Sarawak have been ‘quite good’ thus far.
“I have whispered to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to keep up the percentage for women leaders given by the state BN. I even asked if he could increase the number of women candidates for the coming general election.
“He just smiled at me. But I believe there is hope and there may be an increase because the chief minister believes in women leadership,” she told reporters after the launch of the state-level BN Women election machinery, which was officiated at by Abang Johari at the civic centre here yesterday.
Earlier in her speech, Shahrizat said the state BN is capable of achieving its target of winning 29 parliamentary seats in the May 9 election in view of the preparation that has been carried out by the state BN, with assistance from the women and youth wings.
“The state BN Women and Youth Wing machinery is among the best in the country because they are always on standby. They were all ready during the 11th state election and now they are ready for GE14.
“With these solid teams, I believe we can win not only 29 seats but 30 or even 31 seats. The performance at the last state election is enough to illustrate the preparedness of the state BN Women,” she said.
In view of the coming election campaign, Shahrizat also reminded the BN Women to take care of their health.
“Do take care of your health especially during the final phase of GE14. Also, don’t get bored or give up after years of working hard for BN, and please don’t be complacent when BN wins either.”
Meanwhile, state BN Women chief Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah announced the ‘AKUJANJI Wanita BN Sarawak’ pledge, where she pointed out that the Women’s Wing would work as a team to complement and support one another towards ‘winning with style’.
“The BN Women will also work together with the main body as well as the Youth Wing to defend the 25 seats won in the 13th General Election as well as to wrest four seats for BN so that we can achieve our target of winning 29 out of 31 parliamentary seats this election.”
She also said that BN Women’s Wing members would go to the ground to provide services to voters, reach out to them and obtain their feedback through the ‘Jalinan Rakyat Plus’ (JR+) so that the services rendered would fulfill the aspirations of the people.
Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, deputy chief ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, Fatimah, who is also PBB Women chief, SUPP Women chief Kho Teck Wan, PRS Women chief Dato Sri Doris Brodie, and PDP Women chief Datuk Chiew Yen Chew were also present at the launch.