KUCHING: Women’s participation in politics in Sarawak has gained positive momentum in recent years.
The increase in female candidates from 15 in 2011 to 22 in the 2016 state election reveals that political parties seem to realise the significance of women holding elected positions.
However, looking at the proportion of women in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, only eight percent of the total 82 seats are held by women. Seven out of the 22 candidates in the previous election won their respective contest.
These are Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah (Dalat), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (Samariang), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu (Tanjung Datu), Simoi Peri (Lingga) who are from the ruling GPS coalition, as well as Irene Mary Chang (Bukit Assek) and Violet Yong (Pending) from DAP.
In Parliament, there are five (22 percent) Sarawak women in the august House.
They comprise Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Batang Sadong), Rubiah Wang (Kota Samarahan) and Hanifah Hajar Taib (Mukah) from GPS and Alice Lau (Lanang) from DAP.
According to Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) report on women representations in the national parliament for the year 2019, Malaysia ranks at 143 out of 190 countries.
Among Asean countries, Malaysia stands third from bottom, above Myanmar and Brunei.
In fact, it is also interesting to note that in Malaysia, women comprise one half of the registered voters and active in political life.
Based on the scenario above, despite its positive trend and high percentage of women voters turn-out, it appears that women candidates are still lagging far behind their male counterparts.
The aspiration on 30 percent of women representation in the government is still low, and yet to be fulfilled.
Does this mean that women candidates are less popular than men?
Or does this reflect on the policy of the political parties – are they open to female candidates?
According to Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Women’s chief Datuk Seri Doris Brodie, the failure of winning the seats is not due to gender alone.
“I really don’t think women politicians don’t win in elections simply because they are unpopular.
“In politics and during elections, other factors, for example, the strength of the opponents, the party they represent, the quality and personality of the candidates themselves amongst others are important factors that determine the success of a candidate(s).
“Anyhow, there were also male candidates who lost their seats in the last elections. So, to me, this matter is very subjective,” she commented.
She pointed out the political party itself must enhance efforts in breaking the glass ceiling.
“The society and the political party itself in this era must break the glass ceiling to reduce gender discrimination due to tradition and culture.
“The party leadership in this instance must be serious and dare to take the lead and change the norm.
“Afterall, we need all the resources and brains that we have to build this nation. No one gender alone can do it.
“There must be genuine inclusivity and support by the opposite gender. The party leadership must be serious and dare to take the lead and change the norm.
“There must be genuine inclusivity and support by the opposite gender. It must be with sincere acknowledgement and acceptance that women are equally capable if not better when opportunities and appropriate guidance are given,” she said.
Doris pointed out that women must not be perceived as a threat but partners. There must be an awakening among the society at large as women constitute half of the world population, she said.
“Approximately 60 percent of those studying in the higher learning institutions in Malaysia are female.
“Hence, the new norm must focus on the numbers so that these intellects are not put to waste due to gender inequality or male-centric mentality,” she explained to New Sarawak Tribune.
She also said that the mentality among community on women as secondary members of the society is long-overdue issue.
“The fact remains that many out there still have that mentality.
“It’s like the saying ‘bad habit dies hard’. The ‘force’ will be when most of the intellects (in the very near future) are the feminine gender.
“When this happens, total acceptance by society at large needs to take place,” she added.
To break the perception on gender roles in Asian countries like Malaysia, particularly in Sarawak, Doris personally think that it takes good governance and gender sensitisation policies to address the issue.
“The aspirations must be seriously addressed while the community at large must take upon themselves to accept changes and be aware that gender equality is important to drive a nation forward,” she added.
She noted that women have achieved huge milestones in recent years despite the old-fashioned mentality on gender role.
“In my opinion, women movement have resulted in some political parties making the stance to nominate women candidates in the 11th Sarawak state election and even in the last general election (PRU14).
“It’s a good sign!” she lauded, adding that the increasing trend was perhaps due to “better awareness amongst the society that women participation in politics is important because it is an integral part of democracy”.
“Secondly, it is also due to women taking the initiative to break the stereotype about women not just confined to domestic chores and second class in societal status,” she said.
What is more important, she added, is that the men now seem to have come to realise and take baby steps for better approach.
“Men have come to a realisation and thus have taken ‘baby steps’ to becoming more accommodative and supportive,” she said.
