PETALING JAYA: More than 100 groups and activists have urged PKR to allow all of its former women MPs during the last parliamentary term to defend their seats in the upcoming general election (GE15).
In an open letter to the party, they cited reports that Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Maria Chin Abdullah, Tan Yee Kew and June Leow were slated to be replaced by male candidates for GE15.
The four women were the MPs for Pandan, Petaling Jaya, Wangsa Maju and Hulu Selangor, respectively.
They said it was not the right time for Wan Azizah, Malaysia’s first female deputy prime minister, to retire from politics, and pointed out that Maria had a proven track record in championing human rights issues and institutional reforms.
While applauding PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement that 30% of the party’s candidates will be women in GE15, they said allowing the former MPs to defend their seats would help ensure greater women representation in politics.
“There have only ever been 84 women who have made it to the Dewan Rakyat since its establishment in 1959. The last Parliament saw only 14.86% women representation.
“Although the odd exception exists, for many Malaysian women, the system is not built for them, regardless of how hard they work and no matter how much they sacrifice.
“We do not want their voices to be lost and their determination to be part of the solution, extinguished and forgotten,” the letter said.
The letter was signed by 121 groups and individuals, including Family Frontiers, G25, women’s rights activist Ivy Josiah and veteran activist Irene Xavier.
Last week, The Vibes news portal reported that the four MPs were set to be replaced by male candidates for GE15. It also said that while the party would field more women, they were expected to contest for tougher seats.