Bersatu's Mas Ermieyati: What's wrong with being a woman?

MALACCA POLLS | Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who won her parliamentary seat on an Umno ticket but later switched to Bersatu, believes that PN is a platform that is willing to offer more opportunities for women compared to her previous BN coalition.

Mas Ermieyati is contesting in Tanjung Bidara as a PN candidate in the Malacca polls. Tanjung Bidara is one of five state constituencies within the Masjid Tanah parliamentary seat.

She pointed out that of the five seats, PN has fielded women in three of them including herself.

In contrast, Mas Ermieyati said she got negative reactions when she first debuted as an Umno MP in 2013, at age 37.

"The first time when I contested in the Masjid Tanah parliamentary seat, I got questions like 'why is this kid contesting, what more a woman'.

"What's the problem with being a woman? Is being a woman wrong?" said told Malaysiakini in an interview.

PN, on the other hand, is more open to women, said Mas Ermieyati.

"I hope this trend of PN fielding more women will continue at the national level during the general election.

"Our wish is for at least 30 percent to be women, not only for PN but also Pakatan Harapan and BN," she said.

PN has been mulling to nominate Mas Ermieyati as its potential chief ministerial candidate.

Whether the coalition follows through will be known later today when PN is expected to formally announce its chief ministerial candidate.

Mas Ermieyati conceded that Bersatu has its shortcomings, particularly on the need to build up its grassroots network.

However, she views PN's anti-corruption position as a differentiating factor.

Mas Ermieyati will face Malacca BN chief Ab Rauf Yusoh and Harapan's Zainal Hassan in Tanjung Bidara.

In the last general election, BN won Tanjung Bidara by 2,864 votes. - Mkini