A women's rights NGO has questioned the Penang government on its poor representation of women in local councils.

Women's Center for Change (WCC) programme director Karen Lai expressed disappointment at the low number of women city councillors appointed recently to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Perai City Council.

At present, there is only a 19 percent (nine out of 48) representation of women on the councils, a four percent reduction from the previous 2018/19 term which saw a 23 percent (11 out of 48) representation.

"Why is Penang going backwards? What happened to the promised 40:40:20 representation?" Lai asked in a statement.

In November last year, the DAP announced that it was headhunting women candidates to fulfil its party quota for the post of local councillors.

Pakatan Harapan's promise on page 181 of their Buku Harapan manifesto, specifically under "Iltizam Khas Untuk Wanita 5, number 2," states:

“To ensure women form at least 30 percent of policymakers at every level of governance.”

Lai urged the Penang government to review its selection process and to include more capable women from outside the political party system and tap their contributions for the good of the state.

She said the state government should draw from a bigger pool of talent if they were serious about including women who make up half the population.

"We need to arrest this decline before it gets worse. Thinking beyond party lines is crucial if we are to make real progress."

Lai also expressed concern that while the state failed to meet its own declared goal of 40:40:20 in gender representation at all levels, it was also "regressing" in that direction.

She said while the low number of women keen to come forward and hold public office may be a contributing factor, the appointment process for city councillors itself needed to be reviewed.

She said the councils needed to remove systemic barriers to women appointments to positions of leadership.

She added WCC had always supported efforts by the state government towards fielding more women leaders as part of Harapan’s manifesto.

She reminded that the NGO had applauded the setting up of a new state exco portfolio, gender inclusiveness, which is currently helmed by Chong Eng.

Lai noted that the Penang government has acknowledged the importance of inclusion and diversity in its decision-making bodies and should be "deservedly proud to have had two women as city mayors."

"Women’s specific needs like safety from snatch thieves, good public toilets, breastfeeding facilities, clean markets and the availability of good and affordable childcare centres and kindergartens, among others, are often overlooked without strong women’s representation in decision-making," Lai stressed.