A TOTAL of 71 female candidates will be contesting in the six state elections. 

Most of them are from Pakatan Harapan (PH) – 26 out of a total of 138 candidates – while Barisan Nasional (BN) is fielding 12 out of 108, Perikatan Nasional (PN) has 19 out of 245, and Muda has the biggest percentage with 10 out of 19 candidates. 

Parti Rakyat Malaysia is fielding two women while there is one from Parti Socialis Malaysia and another who is an independent candidate.  

The women candidates are from a diverse range of backgrounds, with most holding important positions in their respective parties. The youngest candidate is also a woman – Melanie Ting Yi-Hlin, 23, Muda Central Information Team’s chief-of-staff – who is contesting in Bukit Antarabangsa. 

Other prominent female candidates include former women, family and community development minister Rina Mohd Harun, who is running for the Batu Tiga seat under PN against Saiyidah Izzati Nur Razak Maideen of Muda and Danial Al-Rashid Haron Aminar Rashid (PH-Amanah). 

Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah will be holding their state elections simultaneously on August 12, along with the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, with early voting set for August 8. – Bernama, July 29, 2023.