PKR, PAS struggle with 30% women quota as DAP makes strides

PAS is still lagging in terms of having more women leaders in the party as many feel women should give way to men wihen it comes to leadership.– The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 6, 2015.

While DAP has made history by becoming the first party in Malaysia to set a 30% quota for women leaders among its highest executive leadership, its Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners PKR and PAS continue to struggle with mindset change and the lack of women members willing to step up to bigger tasks.

The head of the PKR women's wing Zuraida Kamaruddin said that although the party had attracted many capable women, they were reluctant to take up leadership or accept promotions.

"Although there are many women professionals joining PR, many are reluctant when chosen as party leaders.

"I daresay we are still short of qualified women who can be chosen as parliamentary or state candidates," she told The Malaysian Insider.

And although PKR had been the first party to amend its constitution to include a 30% quota for women representation at all levels in 2009, it has not achieved this yet, Zuraida added.

"Presently, we have only achieved 26%," she said, but noted that this was better progress than that of the women's wing in Umno, the lead Malay party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Head of PKR women's wing, Zuraida Kamaruddin, says many women are reluctant to be party leaders. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 6, 2015."We are still looking to identify those who are capable of filling such positions. It is not easy for the opposition to find professionals or academicians in its ranks," Zuraida, who is also the Ampang MP, said.

The DAP, a 48-year-old party, had approved an amendment in its party constitution on the 30% quota for women in the central executive committee (CEC) at its national convention on December 14 last year. This move would reserve at least nine seats in the CEC for women.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said its was aimed at getting more women involved in the party, as well as to gain support from women voters during elections.

Currently, two of the highest positions held by women in the DAP's CEC are vice-chairman, held by Teresa Kok who is the Seputeh MP, and deputy secretary-general, filled by Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng.

Zuraida said it was easier to attract women professionals and academicians to the party if it was in the ruling government.

PAS, however, is lagging far behind because of the party's mindset, even among women, that women should give way to men with regards to leadership.

The Islamist party's deputy women chief Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said PAS was far from reaching the stage of proposing a 30% quota, as they wanted to avoid pressuring the male leaders.

"PAS women members are quietly working towards achieving the 30% target without making it compulsory for the party to do so.

"I feel that the PAS men leaders and part of the women leaders are not ready to impose such a quota although it is what the women's wing wants."

She told The Malaysian Insider that those in the party who advocated having more women leaders were taking the softer approach, by raising awareness first and obtaining grassroots support.

"Without the support of the PAS branches, it will be difficult," the Kota Raja MP said.

PAS deputy women chief Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud says female members are quietly working towards achieving the 30% target. – Facebook pic, January 6, 2015.Dr Siti Mariah said there were other issues to settle before proposing a quota for women leaders in the party, such as finding candidates among the women themselves to be leaders.

The prevalent mentality among PAS's male leaders was also another issue and one that was difficult to change too quickly.

"We are afraid to have a quota and candidates because what if these ideas are not supported by the leadership at all levels and by the men. When suggestions are made by the men, it is hard to reject them, but if they are made by women, there are some whose thinking is very conservative," she added.

Of greater priority than a quota, she said, was to lobby for a vice-president post for a woman. This had been raised at the party's muktamar or annual general meeting last year by the Johor PAS women.

She said that presently, there were four vice-president positions in PAS and the men might feel threatened if they lose one seat.

DAP women's wing leader Chong Eng says greater political will and determination are needed to raise women leaders to even higher levels. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 6, 2015.Meanwhile, DAP women's wing leader Chong Eng said the 30% target was not impossible to achieve as it had been implemented successfully in other countries. Setting a target, she said, was an important step to begin paving the way for more women leaders and thus policies that were reflective of women's interests.

"(The quota is) a policy that can strengthen and raise women leaders to even higher levels so that when policies are made for the country or party, the role of women will be give due consideration," she told The Malaysian Insider.

Chong said greater political will and determination were needed for political parties in Malaysia to give more space to women and introduce gender-sensitive policies.

"PAS, PKR and Umno can also do the same but their leaders don't wish to. They want women's votes but don't want women to become leaders at the highest levels," she added.

Zuraida said women made up about half of Malaysia's population and it was important for their opinions to be reflected in government policies.

"If women's opinions are not considered, they will continue to be sidelined and will never be chosen for any important positions even if they are qualified," she said.

- TMI