Groups want 30% women representation in decision-making posts

PETALING JAYA: Women’s rights groups have reminded the newly formed government to have 30% women representation in decision-making positions.

National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO), which represents 200 women non-governmental organisations nationwide, wants the state and federal governments to have 30% of women ministers in the Cabinet.

It also wants 30% of women to be included in Dewan Negara to balance the 13% women representation in Dewan Rakyat, and 30% of women as state executive committee members at the state level.

“The track record of women politicians in GE14 is excellent.

“We are confident that they will be able to make huge contributions for the interests of the people and nation, and enhance the prosperity, unity and peace of the country,” said NCWO honorary secretary-general Omna Sreeni-Ong in a statement yesterday.

Meanwhile, Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower) urged newly appointed Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to have 20 women MPs in the Cabinet.

Making Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as Malaysia’s first woman deputy prime minister is not enough, it said.

“We have waited too long for meaningful representation in the Cabinet and can no longer accept the justification that women are not ready to lead ministries.

“The new Cabinet will be largely made up of people who have little or no experience in the Federal Government.

“This presents a great opportunity to reflect the new government’s commitment to include women in key decision-making posts, commensurate with their potential and experiences to contribute to good governance,” said Empower.

Among the names recommended are PKR’s Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, a third-term MP and PKR vice-president; DAP’s Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, former Selangor Speaker, two-term assemblyman and Wanita DAP vice-chairman; DAP’s Batu Kawan MP Kasthurirani Patto, a second-term MP and former political secretary to Lim Kit Siang; DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, a fifth-term MP and DAP deputy secretary-general.

Other include Petaling Jaya MP and former Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah, Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, Lanang MP Alice Lau, Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin and Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis.

Empower added that women voters outnumbered men in all but two states and one federal territory.

“Women’s participation in the electoral process cannot largely remain only as voters.

“There needs to be more substantive participation, especially in decision-making. It would be glaringly unjust if women are overlooked yet again in the formation of a new Cabinet,” it said, adding that the Pakatan Harapan had promised to eliminate discrimination against women.