MALAYSIA may be a developing and progressing nation but female representation in the political arena is underwhelming.

Political parties can set this right, starting in the coming Kuala Kubu Baru (KKB) state by-election on May 11.

The seat fell vacant following the death of its assemblyman, three-term Lee Kee Hiong from DAP.

Lee had been the state rep for the seat, which falls under the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency, since 2013.

The Election Commission has announced May 11 as the polling day and nomination two weeks prior, on April 27.

The latest electoral roll from the EC shows that there are 20,117 (50.01%) male voters and 20,109 (49.99%) female voters in the KKB state constituency.

The polls will be the seventh by-election to be held after the 2022 general election.

By-elections were held for the Kuala Terengganu, Kemaman and Pulai parliamentary seats and Simpang Jeram, Pelangai and Jepak state seats.

Sadly, not a single female candidate was named in any of the six by-elections, undermining the potential of women in politics and indicating male dominance in this field.

Discussions of potential candidates for the KKB seat is rife among the unity government coalition and also opposition coalition.

DAP is highly likely to defend the seat for Pakatan Harapan (PH), while Perikatan Nasional (PN) could name a candidate from Gerakan, replicating their move during the six-state polls in August last year.

All eyes will be on DAP, if they are to name a like-for-like female candidate for the KKB seat to replace its incumbent. Or will it reduce the number of female representatives in politics by naming a male candidate?

According to news reports, a person who appears to be at the top of the list for DAP is Mandeep Singh, who is the political secretary to Selangor DAP’s chairman and party deputy chairman Gobind Singh.

Mandeep, who was formerly with Bersih, comes from the district and is said to have been helping Lee out at her service centre as well.

However, Wanita DAP chief Teo Nie Ching had said that several Wanita DAP members have been named as potential candidates to represent PH for the seat, keeping the hopes for female representation alive.

Wanita DAP’s vice chief and Bentong lawmaker Young Syefura Othman also urged the party’s top leadership to prioritise the consideration of a female candidate as a contender for the upcoming by-election.

Gobind recently said PH was still in talks on candidate choice.

It should not be dismissed that DAP is a party that continues female empowerment and representation.

It became the first party in the country to set a 30% quota for women leaders in its highest decision-making body, the central executive committee (CEC).

During the 15th general election, DAP had the most number of female candidates for a party with 14.

Meanwhile, in the six state elections held last August, only 24 out of the 71 women who contested in the polls emerged victorious.  

Fifteen, including the late Lee, were from PH, which had a total of 26 women candidates.

Eight of the 19 women candidates from PN also won.

It is understandable that there is no quota for female representation in Malaysian politics.

However, it would be a great lift and respect for the female community, if both government and opposition could name a female contender for the KKB by-election.

This would further encourage female participation in politics and also increase the gender’s representation in this field.

Despite women making up more than half the number of voters in the nation, Malaysia still lags behind in female representation in the political arena.

In 2023, Malaysia ranked 102 out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report, lagging behind other Asean countries.

In an International Parliamentary Union (IPU) survey, Malaysia was placed 150th out of 190 countries, having only 30 female lawmakers out of 222 parliamentarians.

When the IPU first compiled the data on the percentage of female parliamentarians in January 1997, Malaysia then ranked 60th with 15 out of 192 parliamentarians being women. – April 17, 2024.