KUALA LUMPUR: The agenda to attract more women to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will be the main focus of the women wing, Srikandi, at the party’s second general assembly to be held from tomorrow until Sunday.
Srikandi Bersatu chief Datuk Seri Rina Harun said with Pakatan Harapan (PH) having won the 14th general election (GE14), it was now time for the party, which is led by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to fill the victory by increasing the party membership.
“We have outlined programmes for Srikandi to be the platform for women’s voices, especially at the grassroots, because before, those who wanted to join Srikandi were threatened and insulted.
“Alhamdulillah, with the choice made by the people, the (number of) members is increasing. Perhaps, before they were afraid, now they are bolder and more open. So, Srikandi will be more aggressive in bringing it closer to the people to increase membership and ensure those who want to be with the party are certain and believe in what we are championing,” he said.
She said during an interview with several media organisations recently in conjunction with the upcoming Bersatu second general assembly to be held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).
She said Srikandi would also continue to be the voice of the grassroots as it did prior to PH’s victory in GE14, based on problems facing the women of today, especially on legal, economic, education and political issues.
A total of 600 Srikandi delegates are attending the movement’s first assembly which will be opened simultaneously with that of Bersatu’s youth movement, Armada, by party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin tonight.
On Srikandi membership, Rina said as of September this year, it had 70,000 members. The movement was established in March last year.
She attributed the high number to the membership drive “Seribu Seri”, which was launched by deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir last month that saw professionals, entrepreneurs and rural folks becoming Srikandi members.
On views by certain quarters that Srikandi was seen as being less significant compared with the women movements of other coalition parties in PH, Rina said she was aware of it and believed it could be because Srikandi was still new as it was established only about a year ago.
On claims that she was not vocal in voicing her opinion on current issues compared with other cabinet ministers, Rina, who is Rural Development Minister, said it was because she chose to speak only when necessary and would refer all matters to Dr Mahathir.
She said she also preferred to focus more on matters related to her ministry to ensure promises made to the people could be fulfilled within the five-year period.
“We (party) should be seen as a team. What we said have to be in tandem with the leadership and as a new government, we have to be seen strong, and among us too, should be seen likewise to give confidence to the people.
“We welcome all views and opinions, but if the difference is obvious, it can give a bad perception to the people, that is what we are trying to avoid,” she added. – Bernama
