Govt, opposition ready to field female candidates in state polls

SHAH ALAM - Political parties in the government and opposition are ready to field female candidates in the state polls in Selangor on Aug 12.

PKR Central Election Department (JPRP) deputy director Rodziah Ismail said the party was considering a 30 per cent quota for female candidates.

However, she said various aspects needed to be evaluated by the committee before naming female candidates to contest in the state election.

"Since long ago, PKR has been committed to highlighting female candidates, but this time, we are also focusing on candidates who can bring aspirations and carry the efforts to ensure services to the people are maintained," she said when contacted by Sinar Harian on Friday.

In fact, she said that the same commitment was also shown by Pakatan Harapan (PH) in highlighting female candidates.

"We see that most female candidates especially high-ranking ones in their respective parties are highlighted as election candidates.

"However, all these decisions are left to leaders of the respective parties," she explained.

Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) communication chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos said that BN also was not short of female candidates to be featured in Selangor polls.

He said as BN has no longer set wing quotas since 2018, it will consider any candidate including women if they can win the election.

"If the area is a a place where a Wanita or Puteri member can win, that's where the candidate will be fielded.

"I am sure that there is a possibility of a woman running for the seats contested in Selangor," he said.

Selangor Pas secretary Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir said Pas made no exceptions to feature female candidates in Selangor election.

He explained that the quota has always been there especially since Selangor Pas candidate in the Kapar Parliament, Dr Halimah Ali won in the 15th General Election (GE15).

"We have a Member of Parliament in this state who won on a Muslimat (Pas) ticket and we are confident in their ability if given the opportunity," he said.

Roslan said Pas was also confident that the same commitment was considered by other components in Perikatan Nasional (PN).

"We are waiting for the announcement from Bersatu and Gerakan whiich I expect to feature more than 10 per cent of PN candidates among women," he added.