KUCHING: Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri is hopeful that other state Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties will nominate women as their candidates for the coming 14th General Election.
Nancy, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said she had been appealing on behalf of women from the other state BN component parties to be given space to be election candidates.
“I think it is time for them to put up some women candidates there. You know, in a lot of our rural seats, majority (of the population) are women. So therefore, that would be boosting the morale of women voters.
“I just hope the party leaders of the other BN components will give chance to the women in their parties,” she told reporters after officiating at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri event organised by PBB Batu Kitang branch at the compound of Darul Ehsan Mosque at Kpg Haji Baki, here yesterday.
Despite calling for more women candidates to be nominated from other state BN component parties, Nancy, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) women wing’s secretary, said she could not answer for her party as it would be up to the party leadership to decide.
“I’m not answering for PBB because it is up to PBB. But as I know, PBB in terms of women seats, we have good number but that does not mean we should stop. If the leaders feel that the women can be there for parliamentary seats, why not? The more the merrier and then we can work together with the men.”
When asked whether there had been any discussion in the state BN women wing on the matter, Nancy disclosed that there had been discussion on the matter, but they could not force any component party to do it as it also depended on their party constitution.
“Of course, internationally, you’re talking about 30 per cent. In some countries, they have certain seats allocated for women only. So whoever wins, it will be a women seat. But it is not like that in Malaysia. So it all depends on our party constitution but we do not have that.”
Therefore, she opined that it depended on the political will of the male leaders.
“I have to speak for the women. I think it is just fair for us to push for female seats because since the population of women is almost as big as the men, I think it will be fair to give women more seats.”
As BN leaders are talking about winning more than 25 seats in the coming parliamentary election, Nancy believes they should put their trust on the women candidates.
“I believe women can do a good job because the softer part of the women is their soft skills that can win more hearts.”
As for the candidates for urban seats like Stampin, Nancy said although women are not the majority in those areas, she believes that some voters may want to see a change in the candidate.
“Put a woman there, maybe the voters want to see a change. Well, we have been giving to the men, maybe women will perform differently.”
BN won 25 out of 31 seats in Sarawak for the 13th General Election. The seats won by the opposition are Stampin, Bandar Kuching, Sarikei, Miri, Lanang and Sibu.
BN’s four women candidates in Sarawak who are all from PBB; namely Nancy, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim (Batang Lupar), Datuk Norah Abdul Rahman (Tanjung Manis) and Rubiah Wang (Kota Samarahan) won in their respective parliamentary constituency.