‘Ask Noraini’, Halimah says over BN's low number of women candidates

National Unity Minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique today said questions on the underrepresentation of women candidates from BN in the 15th general election (GE15) must be directed to Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad.

Halimah (above), who was dropped from her Kota Tinggi seat, said this when asked for a response on BN's announcement as of Tuesday that revealed only some 11 percent of the candidates are women.

"You must ask Noraini, she's the Wanita chief," said Halimah after a function in Kuala Lumpur today.

When pointed out that Noraini had declined to comment, Halimah did not respond and instead answered a separate question on her feelings after being dropped as a candidate for Kota Tinggi.

Asked again whether Noraini had done right in being silent over the matter, Halimah insisted, "that you must ask the Wanita BN chief".

Noraini is also the BN Wanita chief.

Halimah also dodged a question on her own personal feelings on the 11 percent figure, the second lowest representation of women candidates across three major coalitions contesting in GE15.

So far, only Wanita Umno information chief Norshida Ibrahim had openly criticised the BN and Umno leadership over a "broken promise" to field 30 percent women candidates in GE15.

Noraini had yesterday declined to comment, while incumbent Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said also similarly dodged the question.

In a Facebook post this morning, BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the low number of women candidates in the coalition's GE15 line-up was a tactical move to ensure victory, and the party's struggle has been placed above other considerations including skin colour, ethnicity or gender.

In Perak and Negeri Sembilan, incumbent Kuala Kangsar MP Mastura Mohd Yazid, who was also dropped from BN's GE15 list, previously said not a single Wanita Umno candidate has been included in the states' list for parliamentary seats.

Earlier today, DAP Women's Wing chief Chong Eng said that based on all candidates lists announced ahead of official nominations tomorrow, BN is fielding 19 women candidates (11 percent), Perikatan Nasional - 14 women candidates (9.3 percent), while Pakatan Harapan is represented by 40 women candidates (18 percent).

There are also other women candidates fielded under the Gerakan Tanah Air coalition led by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

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