Black day for women rights if Wan Azizah 'forced' to make way for Anwar - Seai Kie

If it is indeed true that current PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah will step down from her party post next year make way for her husband, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it will be a sad day for democracy and women dignity of Malaysia.

For Wan Azizah to step down simply to give way to the husband for PKR’s presidency, this is a big insult to Malaysian women of the 21^st century as well as tarnishes our efforts in women’s rights and gender equality efforts for the past few years.

If we recall, Anwar had after the 2008 General Election forced his wife to step down as Permatang Pauh MP after she had won the seat in the elections, in order to “give way” to him to be an MP via a by-election, at the expense of the rakyat’s money and trust.

Worse, 5 years later we may see Wan Azizah being forced to resign (whether directly or indirectly) just for the same reason, that is to satisfy her husband’s personal political ambition.

Sympathize

As fellow women, we truly sympathise with Wan Azizah’s position and are disgusted with the PKR de facto leader’s way of strengthening his political power, not by his own effort but through the wife. This is uncalled for and unacceptable by all women, either in Malaysia or internationally.

This incident proves that Anwar has no respect for his wife or women in elected office. They are getting the sore end of a deal in PKR. In this, no one can deny that Wan Azizah is being manipulated by Anwar for his own political gains.

So now where is the integrity and dignity of all the other women leaders of PKR or Pakatan? Where are the so-called fighters of women rights in Pakatan like Teresa Kok and Chong Eng and PKR Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin? Are they just going to pretend ignorance and continue keeping quiet at their de facto leader’s sexist attitude?

Datuk Heng Seai Kie
MCA Publicity Bureau chairman
MCA Deputy National Organising Secretary