The strong performance of women candidates in last Monday's polls has opened up opportunities for women voices to be heard at a more influential level.

For the first time in the nation's history, women candidates secured 20 out of the 193 parliamentary seats compared to only 15 in the 1995 elections. Of the 20, 16 are from Barisan Nasional and the remaining four from Barisan Alternatif.

DAP MP for Seputeh, Teresa Kok, who was the target of a sexist joke made by her BN opponent Sua Chong Keh in the election campaign, felt that voters, both men and women, had supported her strongly at the recent polls. "The blunder angered a lot of voters including men and women and worked to my advantage despite that this is my first outing there."

Kok told malaysiakini that she hoped to form a women's caucus comprising the elected women MPs, regardless of their political parties, to collectively form a strong unit in the Parliament to address issues concerning Malaysian women. "I am going to invite the other women MPs, especially those from BN to work together and form the women's caucus in Parliament."

Kee Phaik Cheen, state assemblywoman for Batu Uban, and Gerakan Wanita chief, was also upbeat about increased women's participation in the parliamentary process. "The increased number of women MPs will give women the competitive edge and to work together on existing acts and regulations which are still biased against women."

Women groups and non-governmental organisations have spoken out against the inherent bias against women in a number of existing legislations and have been campaigning for changes, many of which are outlined in the Women's Agenda for Change.

Kok and Kee both agreed that the Women's Agenda for Change was one of the main concerns that has to be addressed in Parliament. "The women MPs should work together on the agenda to ensure that it will be implemented and issues are not just left on paper," Kee said.

Kok added that she would be also working closely with the women's groups and the NGOs to fight for the goals of the agenda.

The Women's Agenda for Change was conceived by a group of 76 NGOs as a platform to raise awareness of women's issues, seek redress and to strengthen their participation in the cultural, economic and political life of the nation. It also aims to strengthen the political participation and voices of women in Malaysia so as to promote and achieve gender equality, and to work for a just and democratic society.

Umno MP for Kuala Kangsar Rafidah Aziz when contacted by malaysiakini , said the Women's Agenda has already been incorporated in the national policies. "However, most of the concerns have not been implemented due to time constraints. We are now looking into it," she said.

Rafidah also urged groups to point out the expects of the law which discriminate against women. "If there exists any act which discriminates against women, those who raise the issue, especially the NGOs should give detailed explanations as to which acts are those. We do not want them to just simply accuse the Government without any evidence."