Wanita BN wants citizenship amendment, women-only varsity

 

The setting up of a university and a bank for women is among six resolutions proposed by Wanita BN as the coalition’s new offer to the people in the 15th general election (GE15).

Wanita BN chairperson Noraini Ahmad said the movement also proposed that women with children up to two years old be given the option and flexibility to work from home to facilitate childcare arrangements without having to take salary and allowance cuts.

“Another thing that Wanita BN is concerned about is the unsolved issue of automatic citizenship for children born abroad to Malaysian women.

“We appeal to the government to amend the Federal Constitution so that the word ‘father’ under Article 14(1)(b) of the Constitution and Section 1(b) Part II of the Constitution be extended to include ‘mother’ or be changed to ‘parents’,” she said in her adjournment speech at the Wanita BN convention yesterday.

Noraini (above), who is also Wanita Umno chief, said the resolutions gathered from the pre-convention conducted in 13 states also suggested special education assistance and a more flexible registration process to ensure that children who dropped out can return to school.

Wanita BN also proposed a rebranding of the Supplementary Food Programme by extending it to all needy students instead of being limited to the B40 group.

30pct women candidates

Noraini said Wanita BN is maintaining its stand that 30 percent of candidates in GE15 should be women, an issue it has been long championing.

"In fact, I don't think Wanita BN is asking for too much by proposing that the government amends the Federal Constitution to stipulate that every party must field at least 30 percent female candidates to be eligible to contest in a general election," she said.

She also said Wanita BN always supported the struggle to empower women and achieve the goal of having 30 percent women participation among national policymakers.

A reality check showed that women in Malaysia were still lagging behind and had yet to reach this target, Noraini added.

BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

The resolutions were handed over to BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to be brought for discussion by the top leadership of BN before they are submitted to the government.

In a speech at the convention, Zahid said the party leadership is prepared to take up the resolutions presented by Wanita BN.

At the ceremony, Zahid also launched the Wanita BN Election Machinery for GE15.

Also present were Wanita MCA chief Heng Seai Kie, Wanita MIC chief Mohana Muniandy and Wanita Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) chief Zainon Kayum.

- Bernama