I say no to 30pct women in cabinet

A few months ago, former US President Barack Obama shared a message heard around the world, where he said: “More women need to be put in positions of power because men seem to be having some problems these days.”

Instantly the statement reminded me of Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Wan Azizah proudly began her journey in the Malaysian political scene as the wife of then deputy prime minister and husband Anwar Ibrahim, when he was shockingly sacked from his position. Since then, for almost two decades, Wan Azizah was viewed as a reluctant politician, a puppet of her jailed husband. Today, she stands in front of the world as the deputy prime minister of Malaysia.

In a recent interview with Malaysiakini sounding like a true feminist, Wan Azizah highlighted that her appointment as Malaysia’s first female deputy prime minister had many women feeling uplifted, proving that women can achieve new heights.

And in the same ‘women power’ spirit, the Wonder Woman of Malaysia called for Pakatan Harapan’s 30 percent women in the cabinet manifesto to be fulfilled.

Okay, before people start chasing me with sticks and labelling me as an anti-feminist, let’s set something straight: I am not an anti-feminist and I don’t hate women; I love women and I love being a woman. I am also very much for women’s rights and women empowerment. But what I do not support is turning a ‘women power’ circus into gender discrimination.

Yes, calling for a 30 percent quota for women representation in the cabinet is indeed gender discrimination.

Though I must say, Wan Azizah does try her best to clarify that these 30 percent women representation policy will be based on capability and qualification, and not solely on gender. However, quite honestly, that just sounds more of a mockery than anything at all. Frankly, when you have a ‘women only’ quota, it matters not if you have a more qualified candidate who does not have the requisite anatomy, does it?

Women power or meritocracy?

I do have a lot of respect for Wan Azizah. She is a strong woman who has sacrificed a lot in the past for the sake of her family. But the fact remains that Wan Azizah did not have to prove her capability in getting herself appointed as the deputy prime minister of this country. Undeniably, the position landed on her lap thanks to her man.

And one cannot help but to wonder if Wan Azizah has no qualms about paving similar paths for other women in the cabinet due to the fact that she herself was not appointed based on meritocracy in the first place.

But hang on a second. Did Wan Azizah not champion meritocracy back in 2017 when she confidently told the world that she doesn’t mind being her husband’s seat warmer because he is a better leader than she is?

Oh Wan Azizah, can you please make up your mind – is it going to be women power or meritocracy?

Sorry Wan Azizah, but while you are busy fiddling with your cute little fan, trying to make up your mind, allow me to take the liberty and enlighten you with what I think Malaysia needs – and it’s not a rocket science, really.

What we need right now are capable people who can perform, regardless of their gender.

There. Quite simple and straightforward, eh?

Truthfully, this is not the time to promote women power. Hollywood might join the circus by promoting its all-female cast (as in the recent Ocean’s 8) but not Bolehland. Over here, we have more important duties to fulfil. In case you’ve forgotten, we have a financial fiasco to solve, thanks to our very own professional thief who had heisted the wealth of our nation.

Only competent leaders can help us solve all our existing problems and assist in achieving our planned future developments.

Having said that, I now wonder if it was based on meritocracy, who’d be the best candidate to sit on the deputy prime minister chair which was handed to Wan Azizah on a silver plate?

If only the selection of deputy prime minister was made based on merits, I bet Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad would have had better assistance in reviving the nation, eh?

Hmm, looks like having our first female deputy prime minister doesn’t seem to be that exciting after all.

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FA ABDUL is a passionate storyteller, a growing media trainer, an aspiring playwright, a regular director, a struggling producer, a self-acclaimed photographer, an expert Facebooker, a lazy blogger, a part-time queen and a full-time vainpot. - Mkini