KUALA LUMPUR: The aspiration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to see at least 30 per cent of the women in the country becoming senators in Dewan Negara should the Barisan Nasional (BN) win the 14th general election, is a recognition for the struggles of Wanita Umno and the BN.
Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said it would be a historical milestone for the women in the country when this became a reality.
“It appears that the prime minister is responding to the call by the Wanita Umno movement and BN… I hope it will become a reality,” she told a press conference here yesterday when expressing gratitude of the Wanita Umno movement to Najib for the announcement on his aspiration.
When opening the international conference on Women in Politics 2017 (WIPKL 2017) earlier yesterday, the prime minister said the government would like to see at least 30 per cent of senators in the Dewan Negara made up of women, if the BN obtained a strong mandate in the upcoming general election.
Najib said the government wanted to see more women being involved in politics because their presence would reflect the desires of the voters and to make the political process more inclusive, as well as to further strengthen democracy.
On whether the number of women leaders could fill the 30 per cent quota, Shahrizat, who is also Wanita BN chairman, said the country had many women leaders who could discharge their duty well if given the chance.
“There are many women leaders (in the country), but the problem is when will they be given such opportunity? This is what we are fighting for all these while… we have to overcome many challenges in order to achieve this objective,” she said.
Shahrizat, who also chaired the WIPKL 2017, meanwhile perceived that the participation of the 18 countries which were represented by 28 political parties the world over in the conference as a good omen that they respected and believed in the political system existing in Malaysia.
“If they are not supporting and don’t believe in our political system, it would be impossible for them to be present here (WIPKL 2017),” she said.
WIPKL 2017 is organised by Wanita Umno in conjunction with the 2017 Umno general assembly beginning today. — Bernama