The Council of Malaysian Women Political Leaders (Comwel) will propose to the Election Commission (EC) to reserve 30 percent of parliamentary seats for women lawmakers, said the council's chief Zuraida Kamaruddin.
She said the proposal by Comwel does not require amending existing laws and can be implemented easily.
"God willing, we will propose to the EC chief to consider designated seats for women in the coming election.
"It is not difficult and complicated. It is just designating 30 percent of 222 parliamentary seats or 67 seats for women," she told a press conference after the launching of Comwel.
Comwel is an organisation that comprises 13 female MPs and 31 female state assemblypersons.
"There have only been 84 women MPs since independence. After the 14th general election, we only have 33 women representatives, representing 14.86 percent of the total number of MPs in the country," said Zuraida, who is also the housing and local government minister.
"This lack of women representation in Parliament is also seen in neighboring countries such as the Indonesian Parliament which has 20.3 percent women, 28 percent for the Philippines, 20 percent for Cambodia, and 11.3 percent for Myanmar," she said.
"To make matters worse, we are also divided by political ideology, which causes our opinions and demands to not be heard by the majority. We should strive to strengthen the alliance of women leadership."
Similarly, she said 30 percent of seats should be allocated for women representatives in state legislative assemblies, local governments, and in any other leadership and decision-making positions.
She also advocated the formation of a women's commission to manage women affairs, which is currently under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
"Women affairs is parked under Suhakam. But the issues related to women are complicated, so it is high time to set up a women's commission," she said.
She also called for an academy to be set up to train women and inspire them to take up leadership positions.
Zuraida, who attended a dialogue session with her deputy Azalina Othman Said after the launching of Comwel, also said that Malaysia is ready for a female prime minister.
"So many countries have had their female leaders, why not Malaysia?" she said during a question-and-answer session.
But before the country is able to have its first female prime minister, Zuraida said there must first be a movement of change in Malaysia.
Citing India and some African countries, she said the women leaders there fought for the livelihood of citizens who were struggling, thus creating a wave that carried them into political office at the polling booths.
This is something that is lacking in Malaysia, she said, as the country is "too complacent, too moderate" and the people are not struggling to make a living.
"Our culture is not the same as in India, a country that suffered and fought just for food," she said.
"Malaysia is too complacent, our lives are easy, we are moderate, (we) lack the spirit to fight (in politics)," she noted.
"There must be a mass movement. Where is our mass movement to bring forward the women's agenda?" she asked.
Azalina, however, appeared unconvinced that the country will get a female premier soon.
"Are we ready for a woman prime minister? You have to ask the men," she said.
She noted that some women are reluctant to take up political positions as they do not want to be unpopular.
"I am speaking especially of my party Umno. The party meetings are full of women members because, without them, the meetings would not meet the quorum.
"Why are the men chosen as branch leaders? This is because female members are scared of holding positions as they don't want to become unpopular," added Azalina.
She said she advised Umno Puteri members to speak up during meetings.
She also shared with attendees of the dialogue session about the challenges faced by women in politics, including in her own political career when she was dropped as a minister.
"I have lost my job (as a minister) so many times. I was dropped every time there was a change in premiership because I was not liked. Why? (Because I am) not feminine enough. I am not sexy enough," she said.
"Should I pretend to be what I am not? If I can change the way I look and pretend to be what I am not, don't you think I am lying to the people?"
Azalina, who is a four-term Pengerang MP, was appointed as youth and sports minister between 2004 and 2008, and tourism minister until 2009. She was dropped from her ministerial role and came back as a minister in the prime minister's department from 2015 until the 2018 general election.
After Umno returned to power last year, Azalina was appointed as the deputy speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.
The former Umno Puteri chief also said that it is the women themselves who could be the enemies of a female politician.
"I went down myself because of women. Sometimes men can be very fair, but some women kiss you in front and stab you from the back," she said. - Mkini
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