Decide first if a woman can be MB, DAP tells political parties

There are many parties who oppose PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s nomination as replacement Selangor menteri besar on the grounds of her sex. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 1, 2014.

DAP wants all political parties to declare their stand on whether a woman can be appointed as menteri besar before they talk about other issues.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the gender issue should be addressed first before the pros and cons of changing the Selangor menteri besar were weighed against one another.

Lim said all party heads, including Barisan Nasional leader Datuk Seri Najib Razak, should state their stand to support diversity and inclusiveness.

"Let us not be distracted by the proposal to change the menteri besar. The main issue that has to be addressed, as pointed out by (PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim, is the objection against a woman being appointed to the post.

"It is important that all political parties come out and clear this gender hurdle... otherwise, we leave the impression that (PKR president Datuk Seri Dr) Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is disqualified from becoming the menteri besar merely because she is a woman," he told a press conference at his Komtar office today.

Lim was commenting on the situation in Selangor regarding the move to replace current menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim with Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Anwar's wife.

When her name came up for the menteri besar's post, remarks were made by some PAS members that she was not suitable for the job.

A legal adviser to Umno Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun went a step further when he said Dr Wan Azizah could not be appointed to the post because she had menses.

"Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that a woman cannot be a menteri besar... so let us clear this gender hurdle first and state that we can accept and support a woman menteri besar.

"I am not saying this as Lim Guan Eng but as Penang chief minister and secretary-general of my party," Lim said.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has also opposed replacing Khalid with Dr Wan Azizah.

His view was also supported by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Hadi's statement goes against the Pakatan Rakyat presidential council’s decision.

Last Sunday, Lim warned that a break-up of the coalition was possible if a component party could simply disregard an agreement reached among the parties.

Pakatan Rakyat is expected to hold a meeting on August 10 to discuss the issues affecting the coalition, but Lim said the meeting was not to discuss the possible break-up but issues to be addressed by PAS and DAP.

"The meeting is not about the coalition breaking-up."

- TMI