KUALA LUMPUR – Incumbent women MPs in PKR could be sacrificed in favour of male candidates for the upcoming 15th general election, triggering concern among the party’s female members.
Several sources within the party’s women’s wing fear that this would affect at least 50% of the incumbent women MPs, causing the party to fall short of its pledge to ensure a 30% minimum quota of female candidates.
A party source speaking on the condition of anonymity said among those set to be dropped include incumbent Wangsa Maju MP Datin Tan Yee Kew.
It is learnt that she would likely be replaced by incumbent Semambu assemblyman Lee Chean Chung.
“More are set to be dropped, with their replacements most likely to be males.
“Among the names that have been brought up include Wanita PKR vice-chief June Leow Hsiad Hui (Hulu Selangor), Maria Chin Abdullah (Petaling Jaya), and former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Pandan). All (have) a high possibility of being replaced by male candidates.
“Deputy president Rafizi Ramli is eyeing his former seat (Pandan) but whether Wan Azizah would give way is another matter altogether.
“The point is, let’s ensure that we walk the talk and make 30% women’s representation a reality,” the source said.
Other incumbent women PKR MPs include Nurul Izzah Anwar (Permatang Pauh), Nor Azrina Surip (Merbok), Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan), Rusnah Aluai (Tangga Batu), and Natrah Ismail (Sekijang).
According to another party source, PKR’s leadership does plan to field new female candidates in parliamentary seats but pointed out that the seat selection might not be advantageous to them.
“Apparently, one of the plans is to push newly appointed PKR vice-president K. Saraswathy to take on MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan in his stronghold, Tapah. It could be political suicide.
“There are also possible plans to field Leow in Batu instead of Tian Chua or incumbent P. Prabakaran, but that could be an uneasy move as well given that both men are fighting tooth and nail for the seat,” the source said.
The source pointed out that the biggest concern was the possible omission of Wanita PKR leaders, namely its chief Fadhlina Sidek, deputy Juwairiya Zulkifli, vice-chiefs Wasanthee Sinnasamy and Sangetha Jayakumar, as well as secretary Loh Ker Chean from the party’s line-up.
Fadhlina is serving as a Dewan Negara senator at present while Juwairiya is the assemblyman for Bukit Melawati.
The source also said Rodziah Ismail, the Batu Tiga assemblyman who was narrowly defeated by Fadhlina for the Wanita PKR post, could be given a run at Parliament level in Selangor.
In a statement, today, in promoting the newly elected Wanita PKR line-up, Fadhlina expressed her confidence that the candidate line-up being proposed to the party’s leadership had the capacity to lead and give fresh “punch” for the general election.
“The talents that are leading the women’s wing today have been elected by the party’s grassroots during the party elections.
“If I am seen as not budging over any decision to defend my wing, it is because we are defending the decision by the grassroots.”
Despite the ongoing negotiations and campaign for candidacy going on at both internal and public levels, Fadhlina pointed out that Wanita PKR will continue to ensure that the people’s mandate will remain with Pakatan Harapan. – The Vibes, October 20, 2022
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