Budget 2027 Should Fund Efforts To Achieve 30 Pct Women's Political Representation - PWDC
By Ratchanathan Rawe Shanggar
GEORGE TOWN, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- The federal government should set aside dedicated funding and introduce incentives under Budget 2027 to help political parties field more qualified women candidates and achieve at least 30 per cent women’s representation in political leadership, said the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC).
Its chief executive officer, Datuk Ong Bee Leng, said the long-standing 30 per cent target should now be backed by concrete measures, including funding to identify, train and prepare women for political leadership.
“PWDC calls on the federal government to consider a dedicated allocation and incentive framework to support political parties in identifying, developing, preparing and fielding more qualified women candidates, to achieve at least 30 per cent women candidates in future federal and state elections.
“Malaysia has spoken about 30 per cent women’s representation for many years. It is time to move beyond targets and good intentions,” she told Bernama recently.
She said the proposed incentives could be linked to measurable progress by political parties in fielding women candidates and increasing their representation in elected institutions.
Ong said this should be complemented by investment in leadership development, candidate preparedness and measures to create a more enabling political environment for women.
She noted the Budget 2027 allocation could also support broader institutional reforms, including the proposed Gender Parity in Political Representation Act, which seeks to establish a minimum 30 per cent threshold for women’s political representation.
Increasing women’s representation in Parliament and state assemblies would bring a wider range of experiences and perspectives into policymaking, including on the economy, employment, education, healthcare, care responsibilities, ageing and the wellbeing of future generations, she said.
“Malaysia has no shortage of capable women. Women lead corporations, universities, professions, businesses, civil society organisations, and communities across the country. Yet, this pool of leadership talent is still not adequately reflected in the institutions where laws, budgets and national priorities are determined,” she added.
Budget 2027 is scheduled to be tabled by the Prime Minister, who is also Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, on Oct 9.
-- BERNAMA