PUTRAJAYA: It is fate, Fadhlina Sidek says, as PKR completed one year in power as a component in the unity government.
“All this while on this congress stage, we said we are the government in waiting, but yesterday marked one year since we became the government under the unity government,” said the Wanita PKR chief during the party’s women’s wing’s congress at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on Saturday (Nov 25).
PKR and Pakatan Harapan chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the 10th Prime Minister on Nov 24, 2022, following the conclusion of the 15th General Elections.
She added that there had been many challenges over the past year, but strengthening the administration would be the yardstick for the government’s reform agenda. She added that PKR was also the first multi-racial party to nominate the prime minister.
She said the unity government’s commitment towards ending poverty was evident through efforts channelled to upgrade the infrastructure of dilapidated schools and clinics, Rahmah sales, Madani health scheme, expanding access to education and multi-dimensional management of poverty, among others.
On another note, Fadhlina, who is also the Education Minister, said the target to field 30% of women candidates in elections was still a far cry, as only 12% of women candidates were fielded in the state elections this year.
“Although there are several initiatives to increase the agenda of women representatives in Parliament to 30%, there are several factors which contribute to the lack of women representatives in Parliament and state assemblies, including the political ecosystem and political parties themselves,” she said.
She lauded Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, for fielding two women candidates, who eventually won the seats they contested in the state elections last August.
“Although we have a lot of room for improvement, Negri Sembilan’s parameter is the start,” she said.
She said it is important for women representatives to ensure better policies to protect women, children, and senior citizens, as well as gender-based policies.
“Party leadership must continue to be committed to ensuring that Wanita PKR has representatives in all election seats," she said.
She added that this would represent the voice of women, who make up half the country’s population.
Announcing the initiatives lined up for Wanita Keadilan next year, Fadhlina said only with fair and equal gender representations, issues such as domestic violence, sexual harassment, mental health, ageing with dignity, family health, family development as well as women’s participation in the economy and labour force can be addressed effectively.
She also took a swipe at lawmakers who used the August House as a platform to play up irrelevant issues related to gender instead of debating pertinent matters such as corruption.
She reminded the Opposition to not cross the line with their debates.
Fadhlina also reminded Wanita PKR to continue being consistent in fighting for the rights of women in issues such as domestic violence, child protection, citizenship of children born to Malaysian mothers, sexual harassment and empowering women.
The two-day congress began with the Wanita PKR and Angkatan Muda Keadilan congresses.
The PKR congresses will be attended by 2,374 delegates and 1,500 observers, along with leaders from the Unity Government component parties, as well as 50 delegates from various foreign embassies.
This is the first party congress to be held after Anwar assumed the role of prime minister last year.
