‘Women choose party over female candidates in polls’

 

Women voters often prioritise political parties over female candidates during elections, claimed Women, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri.

This, she said, had led to a lack of women’s representation in politics as women voters wanted their preferred parties to be strong.

"If we look from the opportunity perspective, women themselves don’t help other women. Whom would you choose in an election, the parties or the candidates? You will vote for a political party, right?

"That has become a practice in Malaysia. We want our parties to be strong and their candidate to win. So, how can women candidates win?” Nancy (above) was reported as saying in an interview with Sinar Harian.

She added that women cannot win as long as the people don't give them a chance.

"We can see that people's way of thinking is rather selective, preferring a party that can serve.

“There's nothing wrong. Just when you ask why there aren't many women (in politics), ask the women themselves. Our perspective is that if we vote for the party, the chances for women to get there are quite slim," Nancy stated.

As such, the Santubong MP stressed the need for more opportunities to be given to women in politics, including the chance of being named as candidates and ministers.

“Women should get more opportunities to be selected as candidates and have more say in politics, given the current male-dominated political culture,” Nancy stressed.

For now, women still face the issue of lack of participation in politics.

The cabinet led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has only 17.9 percent women participation, and 13.5 percent women participation at the Dewan Rakyat. Both fall short of the 30 percent target set. - Mkini