Pakatan dangles cash, aid carrot to female voters

The pact is pledging an annual RM1,000 in childcare incentives as part of its manifesto for women voters. — File picKUALA LUMPUR, April 7 ― Pakatan Rakyat (PR) today offered cash payments and childcare incentives in its election manifesto for women, promising to raise the socio-economic status of the key voter demographic should the pact win federal power.

At a press conference here, Wanita PR leaders said a Housewives Savings Fund will be set up and RM600 in annual cash payments will be disbursed every year to housewives nationwide, while childcare incentives worth RM1,000 will be given annually to those with children aged 12 years and below.

They added that a local maid agency will also be set up, to help households reduce their dependency on foreign domestic workers.

“Through these offers, we hope we can increase the female workforce,” PAS Dewan Muslimat deputy chief Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud told reporters.

She pointed out that at present, only 46 per cent of the available female workforce is being utilised, although more than 70 per cent of women are pursuing courses in higher learning institutions.

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