17 new DUN seats, women's opportunities to strengthen political leadership

KUCHING, Sept 21: Addition of 17 new seats to the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) is seen as a great opportunity to strengthen women's participation in state political leadership.

Deputy Chairwoman of the United Women's Party Pesaka Bumiputera (PBB), Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said, the move is not just a fulfilment of figures, but a manifestation of the government's commitment to give women more space to emerge as leaders and layers for future generations.

"Why do we put up the ceiling to ourselves? We should have as many as we can.

"If those 17 seats are approved, then the proportion of women in political leadership should be increased", he said.

He said this during a media briefing after the Power & Presence Bootcamp Program Inauguration Meeting at Sarawak State Library today.

Nancy added that women's participation in the workforce at the federal level is now 56.6 percent with a target of 60 percent by 2030.

So this new chair should be used to train more women as leaders.

He also stressed that gender balance in politics can bring a more balanced atmosphere, thus reducing tensions in the often male-dominated political arena.

"If there is too much of one sex, the balance will be out. Then we need to encourage more women", he explained.

In Sarawak, she said, women's participation in various development programmes shows different faces and approaches, something to be proud of and should continue.

Nancy stressed that the effort to train women's leadership layers is a shared obligation so that leadership sustainability can be continued, in line with the nation's aspiration to build an inclusive and progressive society. - TVS