KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 71 women candidates will be contesting in the six state elections, with a total of 245 seats up for grabs.
Pakatan Harapan has the most women candidates, with 26 out of a total of 138 candidates, while Barisan Nasional is fielding 12 women out of 108 candidates, Perikatan Nasional has 19 women out of 245 candidates, while Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) has 10 candidates out of 19.
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) is fielding two women, while Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) is fielding one. There is also one woman independent candidate.
The women candidates are from diverse backgrounds, with most holding important positions in their respective parties.
The youngest candidate is also a woman, Melanie Ting Yi-Hlin, 23, and is Muda central information team’s chief-of-staff. She is contesting in the Bukit Antarabangsa seat.
Other prominent women candidates are former Women, Family and Community Development minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun, who is running for the Batu Tiga seat under Perikatan, against Saiyidah Izzati Nur Razak Maideen of Muda and Pakatan’s Danial Al-Rashid Haron Aminar Rashid.
Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah will be holding their state elections simultaneously on Aug 12, along with the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, with early voting set on Aug 8. - Bernama
