Zahid courts the women vote, promising 30% women candidates

Deputy prime minister also calls for studies and analysis first if Sabah rushes to early polls.

KOTA KINABALU: The deputy prime minister wooed the court of women today with the message that he is pushing for more of them to be in Parliament.

“I will talk to the prime minister that more women, especially in Sabah, are given the opportunity to be candidates for the parliamentary and state seats,” said Zahid Hamidi after launching the Sabah Wanita Umno’s Information and Media Squad here today.

He said he aimed to move a target of “30% of the country’s policy makers” from rhetoric to reality.

“Enough of talking rhetorically,” he said.

Zahid also urged Umno Wanita to hold engagements with the women’s movement of other BN component parties to strengthen the women-run political machinery in BN.

On the talk of an early state election, he called for studies and analysis before the general election.

“I think we should be open to undertake some research and analysis if the Sabah state government decides to hold early polls.

“Of course, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman must have strong reasons if he wants to propose that,” he told reporters. -FMT