BUTTERWORTH – At least 30% women will sit in the state government administration after the next general election.
This promise was made by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow when presenting the letter of appointment of the state Women and Family Development Committee (JPWK) at a hotel today.
“Do you all want to wait for us to implement it for another 100 years? I want to hear your voices.
“Well, we will do this (30% women in the state government administration) in the next election,” he said to a thunderous applause.
In December 2020, Chow announced that Penang would be the first state to have 30% of women among state legislators, which would be implemented through the Tup-Up Women Only Additional Seats (TWOAS) initiative.
Through the initiative, if less than 12 women state legislators are elected, TWOAS representatives will be added to achieve the 30%.
Currently, the Penang state assembly consists of 40 representatives and the previous state constitutional amendment allowed the appointment of new state assemblymen without going through a general election.
For the record, Malaysia currently has only 14.9% women MPs, and 11.3% at the state assembly level.
Malaysia is ranked 145 among 192 countries according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, apart from the country failing to achieve a minimum female representation of 30% international standards since 1995.
Meanwhile, Chow said he hoped JPWK would become an institution where its members would fill the decision-making group as state assemblymen or councillors.
“Based on the development and situation of the JPWK, this can happen.
“Continue your efforts to achieve the state government’s intention to build a talent pool so that balance in decision-making in the state can be achieved,” he said.
JPWK was first established in 2019, and it aims to plan and implement women and family programmes, raise awareness, and empower women in the local community. – The Vibes, February 27, 2022
