Kempen Projek30% applauds PKR’s decision to field at least 30% women candidates in the upcoming Malacca state election as a positive step in fronting more women to have a genuine opportunity to represent the people of Malacca and have a greater stake in decisions affecting their livelihoods, families, communities and state.
PKR’s announcement carries added significance given that the prime minister leads that party in the coalition government.
Despite this positive news, commitment to the 30% threshold remains uneven across the different states and political parties. Actual women’s representation in the recent three state elections of Sabah, Johor and Negri Sembilan has gone backwards.
Projek30% therefore would like to take this opportunity to renew its call for the government to enact the proposed gender parity in political representation act (or akta Projek30%), to establish a clear and lasting framework for women’s political representation and to dismantle the structural and sociocultural barriers that continue to limit women’s access to political leadership and decision-making.
PKR’s announcement comes amid growing recognition across the political spectrum in recent months of the need to increase women’s representation in political leadership.
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During the recent Johor state election, for example, the DAP fielded eight women candidates, representing 47% of its total candidate line-up. Sadly, the other political parties did not step up.
Meanwhile, Amanah has backed a proposal to introduce a law requiring a minimum of 30% female representation among candidates for Parliament and state legislative assemblies.
During the earlier by-elections, calls were also made by party leaders from Umno for 30% women in their candidates list; while Gabungan Rakyat Sabah women’s leaders submitted a proposed list of 10 women candidates ahead of the 2025 Sabah election.
Conversations about women’s political representation have also been gaining momentum in Parliament debates, in the media and across public discourse.
During the current parliamentary session, MP Doris Brodi raised the issue of a 30% law for women’s representation during her parliamentary debates and called for its immediate tabling. MP Dr Zaliha Mustafa in her question to the minister Nancy Shukri asked whether the ministry would revive the proposed gender parity in political representation bill while expressing concern over the slow progress in women’s political representation despite improvements in other sectors.
On 22 June a parliamentary special select committee in its report also proposed a gender parity in political representation bill and called on the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), legal affairs division of the Prime Minister’s Department, Electoral Commission and Attorney General’s Chambers to conduct consultations with the relevant stakeholders to ensure the implementation of the minimum 30% target for women’s representation – the same day that civil society organisations under the Projek30% banner marched to the gates of Parliament to submit a memorandum and the proposed akta Projek30% to the government.
Political parties in Malaysia have extensive women’s wings with many capable and experienced leaders.
Yet despite their contributions and the growing calls for greater representation, they continue to face significant barriers and have little opportunity in decision-making for a seat every time an election comes around.
The government must take responsibility for addressing the systemic injustices that continue to hinder women’s political participation. Women should not have to fight disproportionately hard to secure candidacies, contest elections and access positions of political leadership.
Kempen Projek30% has already crafted and put forward the proposed akta Projek30%, which sets out clear actionable mechanisms to establish reporting requirements, oversight and financial incentives to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in Malaysian politics.
We urge the government to enact this legislation immediately so that by the next general elections, we can move beyond political promises and have a concrete framework in place for achieving the 30% minimum.
The proposed akta Projek30% developed by civil society is supported by extensive research and evidence. We urge the government to build on this groundwork, and Projek30% stands ready to work with it to bring the legislation into effect. – Projek30%
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