PRIME Minister Najib Razak already has the authority to empower women in politics now, and does not need to win a strong mandate in the 14th general election to start doing so, says Hannah Yeoh. 

The Selangor legislative assembly speaker from DAP said Najib was trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes by promising to consider a quota “of no less than 30%” of women reps in the Dewan Negara if Barisan Nasional wins a strong mandate in the next polls. 

Yeoh said what the prime minister said was “shameful” and accused him of “shortchanging Wanita Umno”, which he had called the backbone of his party. 

“What a sham to even deliver such a speech. 

“But then again, is it possible many women in BN are willing to be treated like this and don’t mind it as long as they continue to enjoy perks, and what more, perks in the Upper House? 

“So shameful la Mr Prime Minister to talk like this!” she said in a Facebook posting this afternoon. 

She was reacting to reports of Najib saying that BN would increase the quota for women senators if the coalition won big in the next polls.

He said BN needed the majority of votes if such changes were to be made.

“If we get the required majority in the next general election, we could impose a quota for the upper house, that it must comprise no less than 30% of women senators ,” he said when officiating the Women in Politics Kuala Lumpur 2017 conference today held in conjunction with this year’s Umno General Assembly.

Yeoh also said the Selangor government exco line-up in 2008 already comprised 40% women and that her party, DAP, had set aside 30% of their seats in Selangor for women candidates in the 2013 polls. 

Yeoh said if Najib was sincere in empowering women in politics, he only needed to do two simple things. 

“One, (he can) have 30% women in his Cabinet. This is totally within his control. No need to win big in GE14 to do it. 

“Two, (he can) set aside 30% (of) Umno seats in GE14 for Wanita Umno. Again, this is totally within his control. No need to win big in GE14 to do it.”

Wanita Keadilan chief Zuraida Kamaruddin echoed Yeoh’s sentiments, saying Najib’s proposal was insulting to women.

“He did not commit to fielding more women for the upcoming elections so that 30% women parliamentarians may be achieved. Instead, he asked for women’s strong support so that he could appoint 30% women senators. This is an insult to women. Women are not rubber stamps,” she said today.

Zuraida said despite Malaysia having achieved independence 60 years ago, the country has not been able to reach 30% of women participation in politics. 

“This is a failure on the part of the Malaysian government.” 

She attributed this failure to Umno’s interpretation of the role of women in the country, saying they were “constantly told to be obedient, to stay at home and cook, and to only look after their families and husbands”. 

She also took aim at Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, saying her support of Najib, who Zuraida said had, in the past, threatened to discontinue women’s programmes if Malaysian women did not accept the Goods and Services Tax, makes one question her integrity. 

“Wanita Umno has no stance other than to support Umno.

“The women’s wing of a political party is very important to further women’s causes and agendas. And that is why Wanita Umno should grow a backbone.” – December 4, 2017.