UN Women hopes more women will be candidates for the PRN of Sarawak

KUCHING, 6 Oct: The Women's United Bumiputera Party (UBB) movement hopes more women will be nominated in the upcoming Sarawak State Election (PRN) to increase their political representation.

The head of the UN Women's Movement, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, said that the selection of candidates should however be based on caliber, merit and ability to win seats, not just because the candidate is a woman.

"It is true that we hope every election there will be an improvement over what is currently available, but we agree the Hon'ble Prime Minister of Sarawak wants to ensure that the candidate is elected not only because she is a woman, but on caliber and meritocracy.

"The candidate who can win is the one that's being stressed because when we go to war, we have to win and to win we have to have a candidate who can win", she said at a press conference of the UN Women's Supreme Council, here today.

Fatimah said the election decision was the right of Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, as chairman of the Sarawak Party Combination (GPS).

According to her, UN Women is now focusing on strengthening its membership skills in the face of elections, including through referrals related to Voting Places Agency and Polling Agency (PACA).

He said that the approach to society was also strengthened through various programmes, including Kamek Prihatin, Kitak Penting, Simpulan Kasih, Sarawak Kita Empun - Sarawak Kita Punya, Skuad Sayang and Sarawakku Sayang.

She said the programme was among UN Women's platforms to reach out to society and understand their concerns.