GENDER representation in state legislature should not be a political tool but a matter of fairness, and all affirmative action measures taken are crucial to ensuring a more inclusive and equitable society.
Commenting on the Terengganu state legislative assembly that has long struggled with the lack of female representation, MCA Terengganu state liaison committee chairperson Datuk Dr Monna Ong noted how the state had only marked a significant milestone in its political history in 2023 with the appointment of Zuraida Mohamad Nor as its first-ever female appointed legislator.
“For 44 years, from 1974 to 2018, there was no female state legislator. This changed in 2018 when Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar used Article 27(2) of the Terengganu State Constitution to appoint Zuraida as the first-ever female appointed legislator,” she noted.
Citing a United Nations report revealing that women currently occupy just 25% of parliamentary seats worldwide and that increasing this proportion is key to achieving gender equality and advancing societal development, Dr Ong said while Zuraida’s appointment is a step forward, Terengganu still faces systemic barriers that limit female participation.
“Currently, Article 27(2) of the Terengganu State Constitution restricts the four appointed seats in the state legislature to a non-Muslim quota, with women only able to occupy these seats through this provision,” she stated.
“Given that non-Muslim voters make up only 2% of the electorate, the current system limits the ability to achieve gender balance, hindering meaningful female representation.”
To address this, Dr Ong said the Committee proposes three key reforms:
Make the four appointed seats permanent
Currently, the four appointed seats are not fixed and can be altered depending on the ruling party’s needs.
MCA proposes amending the constitution to make these seats permanent, ensuring that the legislature consistently includes diverse representatives, including women, non-Muslims, and other social groups, regardless of political shifts.
Reform the appointment mechanism for greater gender and diversity representation
“We propose that the four appointed seats be allocated proportionally based on party representation, with at least two seats held by women, one reserved for a non-Muslim representative, and one for a youth representative,” Dr Ong said.
“This will better reflect Terengganu’s diversity and ensure fairer representation.”
Supporting the ‘Projek SAMA’ proposal for broader reform
Dr Ong said additionally, the “women-only additional seats” proposal from Projek SAMA and Bait Al Amanah deserves attention.
This concept suggests adding dedicated female seats to ensure a consistent proportion of female representation in the state legislature.
If the constitutional amendment to make the appointed seats permanent is successful, it will lay the groundwork for implementing this proposal.
“In light of this, MCA Terengganu urges the state government to amend Article 27(2) of the Terengganu State Constitution, ensuring the four appointed seats become a permanent feature,” she continued.
“We also call for the reform of the distribution of appointed seats to guarantee that at least two are held by women, one by a non-Muslim representative, and one by a youth representative, enhancing the fairness and inclusivity of the legislature.
“All political parties must support this reform, as gender representation should not be a political tool but a matter of fairness.
“This reform is a crucial step towards a more inclusive and equitable society, and MCA Terengganu will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to advance Terengganu towards a more diverse and inclusive future.” – March 20, 2025
Main image: Bernama
