As part of their efforts to nurture young women to become future leaders, Parliwomen held a townhall session to provide a platform for people to share their views on women’s political participation in Malaysia - Photos Parliwomen
WOMEN make up half the population here, so it only makes sense that the rate of women’s participation in politics is improved to better represent Malaysia’s demographic.
Those in academia and civil societies working on this issue say having more women in important leadership positions in politics and the government will foster a more inclusive and democratic society.
“Women’s participation in politics is necessary for a more inclusive democracy and for them to exercise their political rights,” says Dr Lai Suat Yan, senior lecturer in the gender studies programme at Universiti Malaya’s faculty of arts and social sciences.
The country also stands to benefit from the unique perspectives and invaluable contributions that women can bring to the table that will enrich decision-making processes and governance outcomes.
Parliwomen co-leader Aisyah Adly says women in politics can ensure that the often overlooked concerns of women can be highlighted in discussions revolving around policies and decision-making.
“Their advocacy leads to the formulation of more comprehensive and responsive policies that address the needs of all citizens, thereby promoting social cohesion and sustainable development.
“Additionally, women legislators play a pivotal role in shaping legislative agendas and crafting laws that advance gender equality and protect women’s rights. From legislation on domestic violence prevention to initiatives promoting equal pay and combating gender-based discrimination, their efforts result in tangible improvements in the lives of Malaysian women.”
This has already been proven in Scandinavian countries which tend to fare much better on women’s participation in politics, says Empower programme officer Ayesha Sofia.
“It’s been shown that greater political participation of women generally corresponds to increased equality and social justice (in) Scandinavian countries.”
While there is still a long way to go in achieving the minimum 30% women involvement in politics, different stakeholders including the government, NGOs and political organisations have implemented various initiatives to this end.
Aisyah says Parliwomen, a youth-led organisation, has organised various events over the past three years such as Camp Politik, which is a series of workshops designed to raise awareness, educate and equip young women with the political literacy and skills needed to enter local politics.
“Others include We-Bina, an annual dialogue series focused on discussing women in politics.Our Parliwomen Townhall at Riwayat Bookstore provided a platform for people to share their views on women’s political participation in Malaysia, including the challenges women face in climbing the political ladder.”
Meanwhile, Empower ran two women’s political participation workshops last year which focused on gender equality and human rights, says Ayesha.
“We feel that these kinds of programmes are important to foster an awareness of and an interest in politics among women and in the past, Empower’s women’s political participation programmes have produced successful female politicians such as (Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister) Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu.”
Empower has held women’s political participation programs in the past which have produced successful female politicians such as Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu who is now the Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister, says the NGO's programme director Ayesha Sofia. — WILLIAM GARY/The Star
Political parties are also boosting these efforts, says Lai. She points to DAP’s move to establish a quota of 30% of women in its central executive committee in 2022 as one example.
“While the results of this are yet to be fully seen since it is not just the number but also the perspective and their capabilities, it is encouraging to see a political party in Malaysia making such a move,” Lai says.
Aisyah adds that Wanita DAP has also recently introduced HerLead, a programme aimed at fielding new female talent in politics. In a similar vein, Wanita PKR launched Sekolah Wanita to educate women on democracy, politics and social issues, as well as Wanita Question Time, a series of talks focused on leadership and politics among young women.
Meanwhile, Wanita MCA has implemented a new post in the women’s wings at the state, division and branch level called U40, which aims to provide opportunities and training for young women to be future leaders in politics.
“These efforts collectively underscore a growing commitment to enhancing women’s political participation in Malaysia,” says Aisyah.
