WOMEN and Family Development Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today said it is up to state leaders to decide on the number of women excos.

“I leave it to the chief ministers (and menteris besar)... (30% representation is) a policy that we have,” she said during a press conference at the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya this morning.

She was replying to a question on why Pakatan Harapan-ruled states do not have at least 30% women excos, when the pact had promised that there would be more women policymakers in the PH government.

Dr Wan Azizah reiterated that PH remains committed to keeping its word, but she did not give a deadline as to when the 30% target must be met, nor did she comment on whether the current situation is due to a lack of qualified women assemblymen.

Penang, Perak, Malacca and Johor each have only one woman exco. Selangor has two.

The excos for Kedah and Negri Sembilan have yet to be announced.

There are 10 to 11 members in each state’s exco line-up.

Activists yesterday staged a protest outside Istana Negara, urging PH to fulfil its promise of having women comprise at least 30% of the cabinet. – May 22, 2018.