The inclusion of women into the proposed Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth wing has met with strong resistance from Keadilan Youth despite an endorsement from its leadership.

In a letter to jailed ex-deputy premier and PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim, Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua said Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor was trying hard to convince the wing to accept the women.

"Like Wanita Umno resisted the formation of Puteri [Umno], I am not surprised with the Youth's attitude," he said in the letter dated Feb 3, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini .

"But I believe, when an idea is good, we should implement it rather than delaying it," added Chua, who is serving a two-year detention under the Internal Security Act.

"I suspect the reluctance to admit women members is merely due to the convention of the Umno Youth structure," he added in the letter from the Kamunting detention centre in Taiping, Perak.