WITH potential institutional reforms underway, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin urged the Government to push for more women’s participation at the Parliament.
“I welcome Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan’s 20 points proposal mooted on Sept 11. With that, I hope we can enact policies to ensure at least 30% women’s participation in the Parliament, including in the select committees.
“This measure is vital to allow women’s participation in nation-building is made mainstream, in addition to narrowing the gender gap in public administration,” she said in a statement.
Last week, Umno nominated Ahmad Maslan to become Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker to replace Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Two days ago, the Umno leader offered a 20-point resolution that he would embark upon if he wins the bid to become deputy speaker.
Ban sexist, crude remarks
Among the reforms he promised were to reinstate the Parliamentary Services Act, establish another Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker post (exclusive for the Opposition), additional allocation for MPs and enact a code of conduct for Parliamentarians to follow, to ensure lively yet professional debate.
Lauding the proposals, Zuraida, who is also Council of Malaysian Women Political Leaders (Comwel) president, said that women’s participation in the august house must be legislated by revamping its Standing Orders (SO).
She added that the Government should also ensure that one of the deputy speakers post is given to a woman; be it from the Opposition quota or those from East Malaysia.
“While we are at it, let us also revise our SO to ensure any MPs that utter sexist or offending remarks will get immediate suspension and be slapped with a fine,” the Ampang MP concluded. – Sept 13, 2021
