TERENGGANU PAS must pick more women candidates to contest in the upcoming general election and not just rely on appointing them as state reps, said Zuraida Md Noor, the party’s sole female representative in Terengganu.

The state PAS Muslimat youth leader – herself an appointed state rep – told The Malaysian Insight that she does not want women to only be eligible to be representatives in the state legislative assembly.

“I think the chief minister and the state exco members do realise the importance of this. It is also a matter of having the right candidate as it reflects the party’s image.

“I am not calling for such a move to be made mandatory because at the end of the day, it is the party’s decision to make. Whatever it is, I will obey.

“But I do see the need to place (women) candidates to contest in elections instead of just being appointed as state assembly members,” she said.

In the last general election, PAS did not field a single female candidate in the 32 state assembly seats it contested.

The party was victorious in reclaiming the state from the hands of Barisan Nasional.

Zuraida, 38, is the only assemblywoman appointed after PAS won the GE14, which was made in accordance with the provisions of the law on the recommendation of an exco member.

She said PAS was not lacking in women leaders because the women’s wing had contenders with potential.

She added that the wing had submitted several names as potential candidates to contest in GE14.

“We have credible candidates who we are trying to highlight. But no matter what, we accept the decision of the highest leadership.

“The decision is up to the shura council or the highest leadership. I accept the party’s decision, maybe the political atmosphere in Terengganu is different from other states.

“So, we don’t want to insist or protest because we are loyal (to the party) and leave the decision entirely to the leadership,” she said.

Speaking of her own role as an appointed state rep, Zuraida said many people had approached her for help.

“Usually, I will be the point of reference (for) making a complaint. Although there are other representatives, maybe they are more comfortable sharing with me because I am a woman.

“Sometimes they are embarrassed or uncomfortable sharing their problems with male state reps. So, this is where my role lies,” said Zuraida who entered politics in 2007.

Women’s issues

Zuraida added women often complained about issues such as drug addiction among their male family members, neglect of alimony, and problems in the divorce process.

She said she raised the issue in the state assembly to create temporary shelters for women in mosques as done by the federal government.

However, there is still no shelter for women managed by the Terengganu state government.

“I presented the proposal, but I understand that the state government needs time to create shelters.

“However, the state government always supports such efforts, including those initiated by non-governmental organizations, by providing financial assistance or food donations,” she said.

Her job also allowed her to work with assemblymen and exco members even though she was the only female representative in the state government.

Zuraida said that as an appointed assemblywoman, she has an advantage because her duties also involve people in other constituencies.

“Women—for example in the Ladang state constituency—they meet and tell me their problems. To get help, I will consult with the local state rep’s centre.

“Similarly, if I want to do a programme that requires me to be in contact with the exco, for example an agricultural programme, I will get the exco’s involvement.

“And there are no obstacles as they understand my duties well enough,” she said. – August 16, 2022.