Kedah MB's sexist comment a reflection of Pas and PN's views on women leaders

SHAH ALAM -Pejuang's Sepang parliamentary candidate, Datin Che Asmah Ibrahim slammed Kedah Menteri Besar’s Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's sexist remarks, claiming that this was a reflection of PAS views on women.

Sanusi had recently commented in a campaign ceramah ( talk) that women were unable to serve large constituencies such as in Sik Kedah as they took too long to get ready.

"I think he is talking about the women in his party but in our party, we will be there the minute you need us.

"I don’t need three hours to get ready and to get out of my house. In 10 minutes, I will be there," she told Sinar Daily yesterday when met during her campaign trail at the Dengkil morning market.

Che Asmah was joined by Pejuang chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the walkabout to meet Sepang constituents.

She went on to criticise Perikatan Nasional (PN) where PAS is part of the coalition.

"The caretaker Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM) minister, is a member of this coalition.

"But in Perikatan Nasional (PN), they only managed to field only nine per cent of female candidates, even when the women minister is there.

"She is the one who said ‘we want the 30 per cent of women in leadership' and the women there are not even able to influence their leaders to put up the right number of women candidates," Che Asmah went on to add that this is a reflection of how much women are valued in the PN coalition.

"This is a very telling aspect of PN and PAS, I think maybe because all their women need three hours before they come out to be on the ground"

Che added that even as a new coalition Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) had managed to field cent at least 20 per cent of women candidates.