GEORGE TOWN – Only one woman sits on Penang DAP’s 15-member committee, despite the party’s efforts to propel the role of women in politics.
Lim Hui Ying, who is DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s younger sister, was the sole female to be voted in during state party polls on Sunday.
Although pundits said Hui Ying won based on her hard work and organisational skills, claims of nepotism still managed to rear its ugly head.
Penang DAP has been actively campaigning for a 30% women representation in the state assembly, however, out of five female candidates, only one made it on the committee.
Even DAP Wanita head Chong Eng failed to secure a spot in the top 15.
Other female figures who failed to make the cut are Batu Kawan MP Kasthuriraani Patto, Berapit assemblyman Heng Lee Lee and Sg Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim, while Seri Delima rep Syerleena Abdul Rashid chose to sit it out.
Speaking with The Vibes, Chong said this is all part of the political process and not about gender, as many men lost, too.
“This just shows that women who garner more votes and win are strong, and the rest, not so strong. It is all part of the job.
“The reality of politics is that you have to go through the process of election, and the party election is just a smaller scale of the general election.”
However, she said, if DAP is serious about increasing women’s representation, its state-level elections should adopt a similar policy to its central executive committee, where women sum up 30% of the body.
Hui Ying, who secured 980 votes, is now Penang DAP secretary.
Siew Khim is assistant state secretary and Syerleena is assistant state publicity secretary, while Chong and Heng are committee members. – The Vibes, March 24, 2021
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