PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said its Gerakan counterpart should feel ashamed that it could not implement its Women’s Provident Fund suggestion made in 2005, and instead accuse Pakatan Rakyat of imitating the idea.

Responding to Gerakan Wanita chief Jayanthi Devi Balaguru’s statement on Tuesday, Zuraida said the former was “pathetic” for failing to implement the idea, despite being a component of the ruling party.

“Obviously, no empowerment and political will to make things happen. A plan on paper with no implementation is only good for the dust bin,” said Zuraida in a strongly worded email statement today.

Jayanthi had accused Pakatan of rehashing the Women’s Provident Fund proposal with its promise to establish a National Women's Contribution Fund.

Pakatan’s suggestions was for the federal government to contribute RM50 for each housewife while husbands will be encouraged to contribute between RM10 to RM100.

Male women's minister

Jayanthi said the Gerakan Wanita had made the same proposal way back in 2005 and this was reaffirmed during the party annual general meeting in 2010.

She added that she was “delighted” that the proposal is being seconded by Pakatan.

Zuraida, who is also the Ampang parliamentarian, also chided BN Wanita for failing to pressure Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to appoint a woman as women’s minister.

“(They) should be ashamed for not being able to even convince the prime minister to appoint a women to helm the women’s ministry despite claiming to have existed for 50 years,” she said.

Najib had chosen not to reappoint long-serving Shahrizat Abdul Jalil as women’s minister after her family was embroiled in the National Feedlot Corporation scandal.

Currently, Najib is the acting women, family and community development minister.