A political party without women is impossible

SHAH ALAM - It would be difficult for political parties to not have female representations, says Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

This, she said was because in certain situations, it would be more suitable for a woman to participate in rather than men, especially if it involved race and religion.

“Basically, in our country, we have to be careful with race and religion.

“For example, when we go to conservative areas, it is not so advisable for me to go alone or in certain meetings or certain functions and it is good that a man participated in it rather than a woman.

“But there are times when it is better for women to go, like in the villages with the Muslimats (Muslim women), they will love to have you there and might not be comfortable if a man had appeared instead,” she said.

Sharing her experience when she first became an MP, Kok said Pas which was the opposition leader at that time was of the opinion that women should not contest in the election.

However, she said after four to five years, the party needed female representations and was forced to field in female candidates for the following general election.

“I remember when I became MP for the first term and it was after 'reformasi’, Pas was still having the stand that no women should contest in the election so there were no parliamentarians then.

“For four to five years, Umno had been ridiculing Pas for this and in the end the party had no choice but to field in a few female candidates for the following general election.

“So when we talk about challenges, without women, it can be difficult for some political parties... Pas was forced to field in women candidates and justify it,” she said.

Kok was speaking as a panelist on Sinar Daily's talk show Wacana English Edition entitled “Women: Not Born To Be Leaders?”, today.

On Wednesday a Politically Frank clip of Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid had gone viral sparking anger and confusion when she said “women are not born to be a leader [sic]”.

It had garnered responses not only from female users but also the opposite gender including comedians Dr Jason Leong and Harith Iskander.

Amidst the massive backlash, Nurul had responded the next day with a Quranic verse and clarified that she only meant it for top leadership positions such as the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Menteri Besar and others in the same rank.

She said parliamentarians, state assemblymen or even a company owner were a non-issue for women.

The next day after the episode was aired, MQ Technology Bhd announced that Nurul was now its new vice chairman effective immediately.

The 44-year old is also the daughter of Umno president and former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

She has contested for various party positions in the past but lost.