By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 22: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women chief Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah says the women candidates for the 12th Sarawak Election will be decided by the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Fatimah who is also the Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister and Dalat assemblywoman said she did not know the details regarding the names of party candidates for the coming State polls.
“Who are the candidates, how many of them, their age, their qualifications – that is solely the prerogative of the Chief Minister,” she told reporters at a press conference held at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar in Kuching today.
Despite pushing for more women representation in politics, Fatimah said a candidate must be credible and able to win in order to contest in the coming election.
“It’s not just the women. Both men and women, if they are credible and are able to win, that is important. We need credible and winnable candidates, those who can serve the community,” she added.
She further pointed out that women representation in various sectors and fields are gradually increasing with the gender being ahead of the men in education.
“However, we also need more women representation in politics and we are making progress starting from Pehin Sri Tun Taib’s time (when he was the chief minister).
“We now have several State assemblywomen, women MPs, and we have quite a representation of female political secretaries and grassroots leaders,” she emphasised. — DayakDaily.
