KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — Leaders from various political parties today were all on the same page in their commitment to achieving the target of fielding 30 per cent women candidates in elections, in turn increasing female representation in the country’s legislative bodies
If it is so difficult to root out sexism in Parliament, then how on earth does anyone expect the general population to treat problems relating to sexism with the seriousness it deserves?
This guide is designed to help Members and staff of the Parliament of Malaysia undertake gender-sensitive scrutiny of laws, budgets, and policies.
By Mohamad Ika Danial Abdullah
PETALING JAYA: A Young Women’s Parliament will be held next month, with 222 young delegates debating policies on women’s issues, gender equality, social issues and more in a bid to encourage more female participation in politics and policymaking.
Making up an estimated half of Malaysia’s electoral roll, women remain to this day, crucial determinersof who comes to power and stays in power. It is then curious as to why women’s issues and legislations that impact women persist as an uphill battle.
In his paper “Does it matter that politicians are older than their constituents? Yes.”, Harvard postdoctoral fellow Charles T McClean posits: “Young people are under-represented in most political institutions. Over half of the world’s voters are under 40, compared to just 14% of MPs.”
The umbrella body for women’s organisations in the country predicts that the gender gap, particularly in the areas of economic participation and political empowerment, will widen due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While female political representation has increased under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration, progress remains slow and women are still impeded from advancing towards roles of leadership.