Call to study redelineation of parliamentary constituencies
KOTA KINABALU: Appointed assemblywoman Datuk Amisah Yassin urged the government to improve the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) by studying the redelineation of the parliamentary constituencies in Sabah.
She said the study would allow the addition of seats that might suit the current situation and needs in Sabah.
“This is necessary because the current situation and needs are also changing. Some parliamentary constituencies are too large, causing the monitoring and development process difficult to be implemented,” she said at the debate session of the State Assembly sitting on Monday. According to Amisah, development efforts are also focused on women by establishing the Ministry of Women and Family Development.
“This is appropriate with the current needs with many women involved and contribute to society.
“Now is the time for this ministry to be established in Sabah, just like the one in the Federal Government and also in the state of Sarawak,” she said.
She added that the ministry needs to be created to play a role in enacting, implementing and developing women’s ability to face the economic and social world more effectively and comprehensively.
“Many aspects can be implemented through this ministry and it will be more focused.
“For example, women’s development programs in economics, intellectual expertise that can be started from children, teenagers in higher education institutions, skill training institutions and so on,” she added.
In the meantime, Amisah also emphasised that programs that have elements of women’s development and empowerment are very important in further increasing the involvement and
This is necessary because the current situation and needs are also changing. Some parliamentary constituencies are too large, causing the monitoring and development process difficult to be implemented.
Datuk Amisah Yassin
participation of women in the economic and social sectors.
She said that includes the active involvement of women in politics and the empowerment of the communities.
“I am suggesting more female candidates to be fielded in the future state elections because we have 73 state assemblymen and we need at least 10 to 20 from women. “Besides that, for cabinet posts, two women should be appointed as full ministers and six female assistant ministers.
“I feel that this proposal deserves to be seriously considered considering that the percentage of women at the moment has greatly increased and is also a major contributor to the economic progress and social development of the people,” she added. Amisah also requested that the voice of women in the decision-making stage be taken into account because women’s involvement in the political field has become more widespread.
“It’s not just for gender equality, but it’s more about fighting for the voices and needs of women as a whole.
“Therefore, in line with the desire to reform the Sabah state assembly, I propose that in the upcoming state election, at least 30 percent of the state assembly seats should be filled by women, including 30 percent of the members of the Dewan Negara are also women.
“Women can also be appointed to be members of governmentlinked companies (GLCs) to ensure that women’s issues and needs are taken into account by policy makers.
“Worthy and capable women should be appointed as GLC chairpersons, and given the opportunity to be part of the policy and decision making team,” she added.