GE15: Allow incumbent women PKR MPs to defend their incumbent seats

SHAH ALAM - Civil Society Organisation (CSO) urges for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to allow former women MPs that held seats previously to continue their duties so that more women can participate in the political landscape.

In an open letter, CSO aired the urge because it was worried with recent reports stating that PKR may reduce the number of women candidates for the 15th General Election despite promising otherwise.

"The article stated a few names of incumbent MPs such as Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Pandan), Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya), Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew (Wangsa Maju) and June Leow Hsiad Hui (Hulu Selangor) as those reported to be replaced by men," read the statement.

The non-profit added only 84 women have successfully made it to the Dewan Rakyat since its establishment in 1959.

"The 14th Parliament Session had witnessed only 14.86 per cent of women representation. Women remain being underrepresented in politics even though almost half of Malaysians are women.

"Even though there are exceptions, for many Malaysian women, it doesn't matter how hard they work and how many sacrifices they make; the system as is it is would not side with them.

"We don't want their voices to disappear and the determination they have to become a part of the solution extinguished and forgotten," read the statement.

CSO said the importance to increase the number of women representatives in Parliament could not be denied.

"However, PKR has raised anxiety and somewhat weakened the spirit as well as our trust towards the party and Pakatan Harapan (PH).

"Such a perception cannot be accepted by most of us because gender equality is a main pillar in the reform agenda," read the statement.