PARLIAMENT | MPs today called for the number of women in decision-making posts, including elected representatives, be increased to 30 percent, in line with the government’s efforts to empower the group.

Norah Abd Rahman (BN-Tanjong Manis) said the move was in line with the announcement by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that 2018 would be Women Empowerment Year, with at least 30 percent women board members in government-linked companies and investment companies as well as statutory bodies before the end of that year.

She said other than board membership, the 30 percent target must also be applied to Parliament, which currently has only 10.81 percent women parliamentarians.

“This pales in comparison with the parliaments in other countries in Southeast Asia.

“Timor Leste has 38.5 percent women parliamentarians, Laos 25 percent, Vietnam 24.4 percent, Singapore 24.2 percent, and Philippines 22.9 percent.

“So I urge that women be given special consideration in the coming general election,” she said when debating the Supply Bill 2018 at the policy level in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Earlier, the matter was also brought up by Normala Abdul Samad (BN-Pasir Gudang), who proposed that the same percentage be set for the people’s representatives in state assemblies.

“The target set by the government to have 30 percent women participation in top management in the public sector has already been achieved, so perhaps it could also be achieved at the Parliament and state assembly levels,” she said.

In line with the women empowerment year, Mastura Mohd Yazid (BN-Kuala Kangsar) also proposed that local authorities provide a special quota for trading sites for women, to give them the opportunity to improve their socioeconomic status.

The Dewan will sit again tomorrow.

- Bernama