Don't exclude women for new seats: Wanita

Kota Kinabalu: Capable women in Sabah should be given the opportunity to be fielded as election candidates in the 13 new State seats.Umno Penampang Wanita Chief Noraini Idris said it is timely for the party leadership including the Barisan Nasional (BN) to consider such aspiration.

This is because, she said, Sabah has a pool of potential and capable women that the party can consider towards achieving at least 30 per cent participation of women at decision-making level in the country.

"Women all over the world are trying to achieve the aspiration and I am raising this not because I want to be considered as an election candidate.

"I feel that the women in country, as well as in Sabah, particularly the capable ones need to be given such opportunity of being selected as election candidates in some of the 13 new State seats passed at the recent sitting of the State Legislative Assembly," she said.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Sabah revenue hits RM6.97 billion: Hajiji says GRS State Government may see full term

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government continued its momentum in managing the economy in line with the commitment and spirit of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) when it posted record high state revenue of RM6.973 billion last year.

Noraini, who is also a practising lawyer, said this when met after the opening of the division's wing by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron-cum-Umno Supreme Council member here.

Also present were Umno Penampang Divisional Chief Datuk John Ambrose, his deputy Datuk Hasnol Ayub Aman, Puteri Umno Chief Dayang Sarinah Mohd Yassin and other party members.

"We are proud of capable women like Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz (appointed as the seventh Governor of Bank Negara), Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun and Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid who are holding Federal deputy ministers portfolios and Datuk Jainab Ahmad who is our Community Development and Consumer Affair Minister, among others.

"In fact, women in Umno had been recognised as the backbone of the party by the party President-cum-Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak in the previous Umno General Assembly.

"Furthermore, women constitute almost 50 per cent of the voters in the country and thus, we believe that women in Sabah also should be given such opportunity to be fielded as election candidates for the additional seats," she said.

Nonetheless, Noraini said the wing would leave it to the top party leadership to make final the decision in the next General Election as the wing will support and respect the decision made by the party.

Earlier, she also called on Wanita wings of component parties in BN in Penampang to give full cooperation and be united towards challenges from the opposition in the district.

"Close cooperation between the Wanita wings in the component parties as well as from youth and Puteri Umno are needed to realise the mission so that we can tackle current issues in Penampang.

Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.

Daily Express Malaysia

"In November last year, we jointly organised a Women Leadership Programme – a Roadmap Workshop on 14th General Election (GE14) together with Wanita wings of Upko, MCA, PBS and PBRS and National Civics Bureau as a preparation for the next general election.

"We have unanimously agreed to not only tackle the current issues in the district but also national issues that must be addressed and the selection of election candidates play important role in ensuring BN's victory in the upcoming GE14," Noraini said.

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00