Local authorities need to prioritise the needs of the people rather than having to meet the stipulation on 30 percent quota for women councillors, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said today.

She noted, however, that the stipulation should be gauged and based on the needs of the residents in the area and not made arbitrarily.

"We have a target for 30 percent female participation in most local authorities,” said Wan Azizah, who is also the women, family and community development minister.

"However, we need to be more detailed. It (the local council) must qualify (by having 30 percent women councillors) and take into consideration the needs for the population.

"One of the conditions is that it would be best to choose councillors from among local residents and voters," she said when participating in the Aidiladha sacrificial slaughter programme at the Nurul Hidayah Mosque in Kg Pandan Dalam, Ampang today.

Wan Azizah spent about an hour with hundreds of villagers in conjunction in the celebration and took time to shake hands and take photos with them.

Yesterday, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the ministry would review allocations to local councils which failed to observe the 30 percent quota for women.

Many local councils have begun implementing the policy and its effectiveness will be reviewed in two years.

If adhering to the 30 percent quota for women, each council should have contain at least eight women.

Councillors are appointed every two years, and if the council fails to comply with the requirements under the Star Rating System, they risk not receiving allocations and a re-evaluation.

- Bernama