Women should be given a significant role in the new Cabinet line-up to develop the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

However, she said it was up to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to decide on the line-up based on the need to develop the country.

"He (Mahathir) said he needed some time (to name the rest of the cabinet ministers) because it involves four parties (in Pakatan Harapan).

"This is so that all parties can feel the victory and equally responsible for shouldering the trust to develop the country," she told reporters after attending an Aidilfitri open house hosted by Hang Tuah Jaya MP Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin in Bukit Baru in Malacca last night.

Also present were Malacca governor Mohd Khalil Yaakob and Chief Minister Adly Zahari.

Meanwhile, Wan Azizah said during the event, she had the opportunity to discuss with Khalil on the direction of the country and he had given a positive feedback.

"He (Mohd Khalil) is ready to work closely with the Chief Minister (Adly) to bring Melaka to a new level," she said.

Asked on speculation that Rais Yatim and Hannah Yeoh were among the names that have cropped up for the post of Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Wan Azizah said the matter was beyond her knowledge. 

Housewives' EPF

Wan Azizah also noted that a special conference to iron out the issues on the proposed implementation of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution for housewives will be held in the second week of August.

She said several relevant government agencies and departments would join the special conference to carefully examine the technical aspects that prevented the implementation of the proposal.

“The EPF, the Social Security Organisation (Socso) and the relevant departments will discuss and find the best way to implement it as there are some technical issues such as Section 51 of the EPF Act and the Employment Act 1955 that prevented the implementation.

‘In addition, we will also look into ways around the EPF Act, which does not allow contributions from its members to be touched, and we will ask the Finance Ministry’s view as its implementation also involves government funding," said the women affairs and welfare minister. 

- Bernama